ANDES' AMAZING WILDLIFE

ANDEAN CONDOR

The wildlife of the Andes, in spite of their heights, is unbelievable huge. Theame has to be said about the flora in its humid alpine meadows called 'Paramos. On the high plateau on the western side of the Andes are the arid alpine vegetation called Punas. Both attracking an enormous amount of insects, butterflies and hummingbirds.

THE CONDOR

The massive Andean Condor soars high over the Andes. His huge wings has fingered ends to enables it to glide and look for carrion. It was discover by Carl Limmaeus in 1758. The condor has a wingspan of 280 to 329cm. Its weight of a male is 11-15kg and for a female 6-14kg. When in flight it is very graceful and the primary feathers are held upwards at the tips. It is a scavenger and feeds mainly on carrion. The territory can stretch up to 200km, surging for food. They also eat eggs of smaller birds. Condors can go for days without food and then gorge themselves. The lifespan is up to 50 years. Young ones reach majority at five or six years. They roost and breed at a height of 3000-5000m. The nest is made of a few sticks and on an inaccessible ledge. Eggs are bluish-white. Both parents incubate the eggs and it hatches in 54-59 days every second year during February-March. If a chick or egg is lost, another egg is laid. Young ones are covered with grayish down and nearly as large as the parents. They fly within six months.

THE FLAMINGOES

The Flamingos living in salt lakes which are 4000m above sea level. They fly in flock with their neck stretched out and their legs trailing. Their take off and landing in such a big number are legendary. The Andean Flamingos are part of the flamingo family. but only live in the Andes. They have pink-white plumage but yellow legs and feet. One chalk-white egg is laid on top of mud mount. They feed by filtering through specialised bills. They are at risk of extinction because of hunting and their long breeding cycle.

THE VICUNA

On the high slopes live the vicuna and is a relative of the Ilama. They are usually standing bunched together. Their wool of the vicuna is soft and dense which provides a high quality garment.

The Inkas had them already protected. Now in 1974 there were only 6,000 in the wild and it was protected by law again being an endangered species. From there on they increased and are 125,000. It is the national animal in Peru. It lives at an altitude of 4,000 to 5,500m

They mate in March and April and after 11months the female give birth to a single fawn. It is nursed for 10 months and becomes independent at about 12-18 months. Young female seek to join the other females and young males join other bachelor groups. This prevents inbreeding.

THE PUMA, COUGAR OR MOUNTAIN LION

The puma which is a lone predator and the largest in the Andes. It is also known as the cougar or the mountain lion. They will eat any animal from insects to a 500kg animal.

The female reaches maturity between one-and-a-half to three years. They usually have two to three kittens every 2-3 years and she raises it alone. Blind at birth and weaned about three months. They live between up to eight and thirteen years in the wild.

It is a solitary animal. The size of their territory is only estimated and can be about 150 to 1000sqkm.

THE GUANACO

The guanaco is a type of South American camel but no hump. Its way of walking has a distinctive gait.

They live in herds of females and a domineering male.  Mating season is between November and February and the males fight violently. After eleven months, the female gives birth to a single calf. It can walk straightaway. When they are one year old, the male is chased off. Bachelors form a group of about 50. The females remain in a small herd of about ten.

They can run up to 56km/h and are very good swimmers. To get nutrients, they lick the dew from the cacti. They live at an altitude of 3962 above sea level. In order to survive this high altitude they have four x as many red blood cells as the humans. The quality of its soft wool is only second to the vicunas.

THE PUYA RAIMONDII

It is surprising that the Puya raimondii and other puya species can grow at all at that high altitude leave alone to over 3m. The Puya gigas even grows to 9m. The flowering spike is about 9-10m.

PURPLE-BACK THORNBILL

THE HUMMINGBIRDS

Even Hummingbirds can be found there. The Andean hillstar and purple-backed thornbill (see picture) feed on low cushioned alpine plants.

THE CHINCHILLA

The chinchilla is a kind of squirrel-like rodent. It has, unfortunately, a soft and dense silvery coat to keep warm. Unfortunately, because it has such a beautiful and warm coat it attracts hunters.

It lives in burrows and crevices. Its predators are bird of prey, skunks, felines, snakes and canines. For its defence it sprays urine and if it gets bitten, it releases its fur.

The diet is fruit, seeds, plants and small insects. They live in a small group. The mating can be any time in the year and it gives birth after 111 days. They are born with the eyes open and have fur. They only have small numbers of babies and mostly twins.

The chinchilla in the wild is becoming extinct and in spite of the law to protect them, the illegal hunting goes on.

THE PARAGUAYAN FOX

A rare Paraguayan fox lives over the high slopes and searches for meat and veg. If it is cornered or in danger the fox plays dead.

THE SPECTACLED BEAR

A spectacled bear with white eye-rings and chest patch lives in the Andes. However, it is rarely seen. They are the only survivor of the bear’s native to South America and it survived because it can climb the tallest tree in the Andes. It builds a platform there for rest and stores its food.

It lives a solitary live and has no territory. Their diet is vegetation and only 5% meat.

It is under threat of extinction because people believe it kills livestock. The gall bladder is used in Chinese Medicine and can fetch a high price. The habitat is constantly reduced by logging and farming.

THE REPTILES

Reptiles are very few and far between on the mountains. Reptiles need warmth. A few lizards are to be found such as the Liolaemus multiformis do survive there. It survives because it can raise its body temperature to 35oC in an air temperature of 10oC. It can be found in places of up to 4800 altitude.

THE PLANTS

Most of the plants are of low-growing and form a cushion. It is to deflect the wind in the high Andes. The Draba bryoides grow in cracks or between rocks for shelter.