There may be no better place on Earth to go animal watching, at least not if diversity is among your criteria. Bird species in particular are staggeringly prolific. Ornithologists working in forests immediately around the lodge have over the years recorded 600 different species, the highest count on Earth for any single locality, and equivalent to an incredible 17% of all bird species known to occur in South America. Parrots, parakeets, motmots, trogons, jacamars, kingfishers, hummingbirds, tanagers, antbirds, woodcreepers and flycatchers are all common, along with the more sought after large macaws, toucans, harpy eagle, guans, trumpeters, horned screamers, tinamous and even the hoatzins. In fact, several species of macaw, toucan, and both Spix's and Blue-throated piping guans can be seen easily without even leaving the porch in front of your room.
For those, with an interest in mammals, many species can be seen within close proximity of the lodge, including six species of monkey: dusky titi, squirrel, night, tamarin, red howler and capuchin. Furthermore, tamandua anteater, prehensile-tailed porcupine, capybara, agouti, coati, tayra, giant river otter, brocket deer and two species of peccary are all seen regularly near the lodge. Also present, but less frequently seen, are three more monkey species, both giant and silky anteater, two species of sloths, tapir, bushdogs, small-eared dog, ocelot, puma and the elusive jaguar. A bonus for the nature lover is the great abundance of different insect species, including the world's highest recorded numbers of butterfly species (1200+ spp.) and dragonfly species (149 spp.).
The Tambopata National Reserve and the nearby Bahuaja Sonene National Park are also home to numerous species that are very rare or highly endangered in the rest of their range. Here they are still thriving. Amongst these are the giant anteater, giant armadillo, maned wolf, jaguarundi, crested eagle, scarlet macaw, red and green macaw, blue and yellow macaw, blue-headed macaw, black caimann, spectacled caiman, and yellow-spotted side-necked turtle.
Red and Green Macaw (close-up) 5
Red-brocket Deer 2009-04-09
