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Peruvian Wildlife

Peruvian Wildlife

By Abi Smith

Peru has great biodiversity, mainly due to the presence of the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes mountain range. They are home to hundreds of species, some of which are now threatened due to habitat destruction and other factors.
 
Southern Two-Toed Sloth

The Southern Two-Toed Sloth, choloepus didactylus, is found in the tropical rainforest canopies of the Amazon in Peru. Known as one of the slowest animals on earth, it roams around in only 10 acres of land and spends much of its lifespan of around 20 years in trees; sleeping, eating and raising young. They give birth to one pup a year, and carry it around until around 5 weeks of age, when the offspring become strong enough to support themselves. Sloths grow a form of algae on its back to disguise it from predators, helped along also by the natural camouflage of the trees. They are primarily nocturnal and sleep for around 15 hours a day, waking to feed.

Sloths eat vegetation such as leaves, berries, twigs and fruit, though they occasionally are known to eat insects as well. Conservation efforts have been undertaken to protect their habitat, as this species in particular has been threatened by activities such as logging. Their main predators however are owls, eagles and big cat species. The sloth’s only defence against them is camouflage.
 
Alpaca

Closely related to the camel species, lama pacos lives in the central and southern Andes mountain range.  Nearly the entire world population of Alpacas can be found in this area. They are dependent on humans as they are a domesticated breed; humans use them for their wool, skin and meat, though their fibres are the most profitable as they are stronger and warmer than traditional wools. Breeding and herding occurs mainly in poorer communities, but their domestication greatly increases the chances of seeing them.

Alpaca coats can have up to 22 different colours, but they are all roughly the same size, weighing from 55-65kg. They breed all year round, though they have a long gestation period and give birth to only one offspring each time. The young are weaned at around 6-8 months. Adult alpacas survive on a grazing diet, eating grasses, plants and shrubs. They don’t have any specific predators, however could be attacked by large cat species, wolves and coyotes, and these predators usually attack the young or sick animals, as adult alpacas are capable of defending themselves.
 
Andean Condor

The Andean Condor is a bird belonging to the vulture family, vultur gryphus. They inhabit mountains and deserts across South America, mostly found in Peru in the Andes. They have dark feathers with downy plumage around their necks, and bald heads with hooked beaks to assist in feeding. Males are considerably larger than females and have different eye colours.

They prefer open spaces in which to hunt, but are primarily scavengers and will often team up with smaller vultures to locate and share food sources. In coastal areas, the Condor will eat carcasses of whales and other marine animals. They do not have any predators of their own, but young chicks may be vulnerable to other birds of prey. They nest in high cliff ledges and will aggressively defend the nest from any perceived threat. Usually females will lay a single egg and the offspring is tended by both parents until they fledge, after which they will remain with their parents until breeding happens again.

The best chance of spotting one is when the Condors use communal roosts, as large numbers of the birds tend to flock there at any one time. The birds are culturally important, particularly in Peru where they represent Inca beliefs surrounding the realms of existence. As such, they are a popular animal and you may be able to organise trips to see known sites, or simply look up at the skies to see them soaring, looking for carrion.
 
Amazon River Dolphin

The Amazon River Dolphin, inia geoffrensis, can be found in the main tributaries of the Amazon River in Peru, though its movements are restricted due to shallow waters, rapids, waterfalls and other natural hazards. This type of river dolphin is unusual due to its colour- adults have a pink hue, and only the young are grey. Males are larger and much more aggressive than females.

Reproduction is seasonal and births occur in May to July, with one calf being born at a time. Females remain in flooded areas for longer and so have access to more nutrients that allows them to lactate for longer to nurse the young. There is a strong mother-calf bond and most pairs of the River Dolphins seen in the wild are mother and calf pairs.

The Amazon River Dolphins have a varied diet with lots of different species of fish, including piranhas. The wet season allows them great freedom of choice for food as many species of fish spread out during this time. They also make use of human disturbances from canoes, to catch disorientated prey. It may be quite easy to see the Amazon River Dolphins at this times, and also around fisheries, as the lure of captive prey brings them close.
 
National Parks are a great place to explore and spot wildlife. Two of the best are Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve in the Amazon region, which has a rich biodiversity, and Huascaran National Park in the mountain ranges of the Andes. Enlisting the services of a guide can be useful as they are likely to know the best opportunities to spot some of the more elusive animals.

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