A Diversity of Species...

El Prado and its surrounding ecosystems contain diverse habitats that are home to large animals, many of which are threatened with extinction throughout much of their range. 

The Río San Martín watershed supports healthy populations of freshwater pink dolphins (Inia boliviensis), giant river otters (Pteronura brasiliensis), black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), and a recently described anaconda (Eunectes beniensis).  Jaguar (Felis onca) sightings are frequent as the region serves as a natural migration route between the Pantanal to the south and Brazil's western Amazonia.

A variety of primates are found in El Prado's forest canopy including howlers, squirrel and owl monkeys, as are other arboreal mammals like the three-toed sloth.  Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris), the world's largest rodents, are frequently seen lumbering along river banks or grazing near the many oxbow lakes.  With some luck one may even see a reclusive tapir, brocket deer, giant anteater or even a maned wolf. 

"We stopped at a large lagoon and headed down the path toward the water. Several large black caiman, South America's largest crocodilian, crashed through the water hyacinth and into the dark, clear water
as we approached."

Jeff Cardwell from Cichlid News