PATAGONIA'S BIODIVERSITY: Photographs of Southern Chile's Wild Fauna
Text & Photos: Justin Lotak · 5 min read
Sea lion colony in the Valdivian Coastal Reserve, Chile
It is often the jaw-dropping mountains, untouched fiords, hanging glaciers, and pristine forests that bring us to the remote land of Chilean Patagonia, far from most of the world's populated places; but the wildlife that lives here can be as impressive and new to observers as many of the surrounding landscapes.
For the last five months we've been hiking and camping in some of this region's wildest places, from the temperate Valdivian rainforests of northern Patagonia, to the windy and wild south of the province of Magallanes. And in many of the places we visited, our only companions were the animals that call these places home.
Below is a selection of some of our favorite shots of Chilean Patagonia's wildlife. These photos were taken in the following locations, from south to north: Yendegaia National Park, Karukinka Natural Park, Alberto de Agostini National Park, Cabo Froward, Patagonia Park, Jeinimeni National Reserve, Cerro Castillo National Reserve, Queulat National Park, Tantauco Park, and the Valdivian Coastal Reserve.
The Fuegian fox (Lycalopex culpaeus lycoides), is a subspecies of the Zorro Colorado, living on the island of Tierra del Fuego. It is the southernmost canid in the world and is the only known fox species witnessed to have hunted young guanacos.
An austral parakeet (Enicognathus ferrugineus), at WCS's Karukinka Natural Park on Chile's side of Tierra del Fuego. This is the world's southernmost parrot, with a range from Temuco, Chile all the way down to the southern tip of the continent.
A fire-eyed diucon (Xolmis pyrope), in Valle Chacabuco, part of the future Patagonia National Park. These small birds are found in Chile and Argentina, their red eyes always making them distinguishable.
A male lesser rhea (Rhea pennata), or Darwin's rhea, or ñandú, with his chicks at the future Patagonia National Park. Tompkins Conservation created a breeding center to restore the populations of these large flightless birds that thrive on the Patagonian steppe ecosystem.
The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), or south Andean deer, is an extremely rare species of deer native to Chilean Patagonia and Argentina. With an estimated population of 1,500 left in the wild, the future Patagonia National Park is working to ensure their habitat remains conserved.
Southern crested caracara (Caracara plancus), or carancho, is the second largest species of falcon in the world, by weight of bodymass. They are mostly scavangers and opportunistic hunters.
Guanaco (Lama guanicoe), standing watch. Guanacos are typically found in two types of groups: one male with many females and young, and all males where they spar to eventually have their own harem. This male was part of the latter.
Black land snail (Macrocyclis peruvianus), in Chiloe's Tantauco Park. This is Chile's largest species of land snail, and they live in the Valdivian temperate rainforests.
Limpets on a rock, along the hike to Cabo Froward. These aquatic snails come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and slowly move around on the rocks on which they attach themselves, unlike barnacles or mussels. An interesting fact: their "teeth", which they use to scrape algae off of rocks, are the strongest known biological material, with tensile strengths of up to 6.5 GPa.
Dark-bellied cinclodes (Cinclodes patagonicus), along the coastlines of Cabo Froward. These small birds are often found near lakes, streams and coastlines from Santiago to Tierra del Fuego.
South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), along the fiords of Alberto de Agostini National Park, in the very south of Chile.
Male South American sea lion (Otaria flavescens), entering the waters of the Strait of Magellan. This guy was huge, and surprised us during our hike on the beach.
Chilean pintails (Anas georgica spinicauda) and other species, wading through the shallow delta waters from Yendegaia River, in Yendegaia National Park.
South American terns (Sterna hirundinacea), feeding off the coast of Cabo Froward, the southernmost point of South America's mainland.
Black-necked swan (Cygnus melancoryphus). These are the largest waterfowl native to South America, and breed mostly in Chilean Patagonia in the Austral winters, while spending summers in Paraguay and southern Brazil.
A breaching humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae), at Yendegaia National Park. Humpbacks almost went extinct in the first part of the 20th century due to excessive hunting, but then rebounded after a 1966 moratorium on whale hunting. Now they face other challenges related to seismic and sonar testing, which can cause them to go deaf and ultimately die. Yendegaia Bay is an incredibly biodiverse underwater world, located within this new Chilean National Park.
Chimango caracara (Phalcoboenus chimango), spreading its wings along the rocky coast of Cabo Froward. These intellegent, opportunistic birds of prey are seen frequently throughout Chilean Patagonia.
Polycladus gayi, in the temperate rainforests of Tantauco Park. This is an "understudied" species, if anyone is interested.
The southern Darwin's frog (Rhinoderma darwinii), a tiny resident of the forest streams of Chile and Argentina. Called the "Ranita de Darwin" in Spanish. They are found on the wet ground, this one was in Tantauco Park, on Chile's island of Chiloe.