La Serena: Where the Guanacos Play

 

While driving from La Sarena to the Pingüino de Humboldt National Reserve the bus slows down and the driver points casually out the window (hes seen them a million times before) and says "Those over there are Guanaco, One of two breeds of wild camelids native to Chile." The Guanaco, along with their close relative the Vicunia, is a signature species for South America (occurring in Peru, Chile, Ecuador, Columbia and Argentina) and so are on our list of South American must see animals.

The Guanaco
A species of relatively tall, fluffy and alert looking animals watch us as our car comes to a stop 100m from where they are grazing. It is kind of surreal to see a herd of such large animals happily muching away on the rather unattractive, dead looking vegetation that is scattered amongst the cacti of the arid coastal Chilean land scape. Within the heard that we have stumbled across, colouration varied very little, with the majority displaying a similar Dark Cinnamon colour with offwhite underparts. Although this is typical of the region, throughout their distribution colouration is known to vary from light brown to dark cinnamon.

We noticed that one particular animal in the herd displayed more of a confident and slightly aggressive persona. Where the others watched on casually but cautiously, this animal stood tall and paid us particular attention. It was assumed that this was probably the herd's male. Apparently each heard only has one adult male with the rest being female or juvenile. These female inclusive groups tend to remain small, often containing no more than ten adults. What happens to the other males? Bachelor males will often form nomadic unisex herds containing as many as 50 males with dominant males within these herds challenging for ownership of the female inclusive groups that they encounter.

Wasn't a mind blowing experience but was a good find. One of those "can now say we've seen it" animals. Will continue to keep an eye out as we go for the regions other wild camelid species (Vicugna) as we go. The Vicugna are more of a high altitude species apparently so we will keep an eye out as we cross the Andes.

Consider yourselves Guanacoed.

 

Nikis Bits: Fluffy fluffy guanaco - at least theeiiir warm...envious!, there were wild donkeys too!