Biodiversity of Andean fauna and flora

Como se llama llama?

Llamas (as they are more generally known as a group), consist of the vicuña, guanaco, alpaca, and the domestic llama. Guanacos and vicuñas live in the wild, while alpacas – as well as llamas – exist only as domesticated animals.

This one has to go to hairdresser...

Llamas have a fine undercoat which can be used for handicrafts and garments

Cria - "baby llama"



Unlike llama or alpaca - vicuna has never been domesticated. These shy fellows just don't seem to want to mate in captivity. They are viable trade for their valuable meat and fur. Vicuna wool is the most expensive in the world.

Solor means Flamingo (in atacameno dialect)

Flamingos often stand on one leg, the other tucked beneath the body. The reason for this behavior is not fully understood. Recent research indicates that standing on one leg may allow the birds to conserve more body heat, given that they spend a significant amount of time wading in cold water. 

Young flamingos hatch with greyish reddish plumage, but adults range from light pink to bright red due to aqueous bacteria and beta carotene obtained from their food supply. This would mean - eat carrot and you are gonna be orange!

The scenery of the salty lagoon was beautiful.

On our way back we stopped by a tiny cactoo. Apparently, the wood from the cactoo was widely used during colonial times. This one is about 1000 years old.

The Putana river is a house of many birds and species. The Reserve is protected by Unesco.

 Zorro:

I have met one more mammal that tried to fly. With no results, though...