Animals in Bolivia
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
Bolivia has no national animal set by law, but the Andean condor is the animal most closely tied to the country. A 2004 decree on national symbols places it at the top of the Bolivian coat of arms, about to take flight, and it is widely called the national bird. The same coat of arms includes a llama, which is why some sources name the llama as the national animal. The Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds on Earth, with wings that can reach nearly 3.3 meters across. It glides for hours over cliffs and ridges, nests on high rock walls and feeds mainly on carcasses. Condors raise very few chicks, so poisoning hits them hard, and conservation work in Bolivia focuses on reducing it.
View details→Wildlife in Bolivia
Bolivia covers about 1.1 million square kilometers, roughly the size of Texas and California combined, and it has had no coast since it lost its shoreline to Chile in the War of the Pacific. Most of its people live in the Andes and in the valleys below them, in cities like La Paz, the highest seat of government in the world, while Santa Cruz in the eastern lowlands has grown into the largest city. In a single country it goes from snowy peaks and the cold, dry Altiplano to warm valleys, misty cloud forest, Amazon rainforest, flooded savannas and the hot scrub of the Chaco. The rainy season runs roughly from November to March, and the dry months are the best time to travel in the lowlands.
The land shaped the way Bolivians live. On the Altiplano, Aymara and Quechua communities have herded camelids and grown potatoes and quinoa for thousands of years, while cattle ranching spread across the savannas of Beni. Protection began in the mountains: Sajama, protected since 1939, is the oldest national park in the country. Noel Kempff Mercado became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000, and Kaa Iya, the largest protected area in Bolivia, was created in 1995 at the request of the Guaraní people of Izozog, who still help run it.
Tourism follows the same contrasts. Most visitors cross the Salar de Uyuni and the lagoons of Lípez on jeep tours of several days, sail to Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca and ride the cable cars of La Paz, while Rurrenabaque is the gateway to Madidi and the river pampas. Wildlife follows these contrasts: camelids and flamingos up high, bears in the cloud forest, and wild cats, monkeys, river dolphins and hundreds of birds in the lowlands.
Most Dangerous Animals in Bolivia
Bolivia has wild animals that can be dangerous in some situations, mainly in remote forests, wetlands and lowland rivers, but serious incidents are rare for visitors who travel with local guides. Venomous snakes are the main risk. Most bites happen in the warm lowlands of Beni, Pando and Santa Cruz, often to farm workers who step on a snake in tall grass or crop fields, and some species also live in the drier east and the Chaco. Wearing boots, using a flashlight at night and watching where you step prevent most bites. Anyone bitten should go to a hospital at once for antivenom.
Wild cats live in the lowland forests, yet they avoid people and attacks are extremely rare. Bears in the cloud forests of the Yungas are shy too, though they can react if surprised at close range. In the rivers and lagoons of the lowlands, caimans rest along the banks and should be watched from a distance. Large constrictor snakes hunt in swamps and flooded forests; they are not venomous and almost never threaten people, but they can bite hard if someone tries to grab them, so swimming should only be done where guides say it is safe. Up in the Andes, wild animals pose almost no danger at all. The real risks there are altitude and cold, so travelers should give their bodies a few days to adjust.
Top 10 Animals in Bolivia
Bolivia's best known animals live in very different places, from steamy wetlands to the cold Altiplano. The jaguar and the cougar share the forests of Madidi National Park and the dry woodlands of Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco, the largest protected area in the country, where camera traps have recorded many jaguars. Both cats are shy, so tracks are far more common than sightings. The spectacled bear, the only bear in South America, lives in the cloud forests of the Yungas and in Madidi and Amboró, feeding on fruit and bromeliads.
For capybara and anaconda, the classic trip is a boat tour into the Pampas del Yacuma from Rurrenabaque, where both are often seen along the river, with caimans and Amazon river dolphins nearby. Sloths hang in the trees of the Amazon lowlands, and the ocelot and boa constrictor hunt at night in forests across the east. The maned wolf, a tall red canid with long legs, roams the savannas of Beni and Noel Kempff Mercado, usually at dusk. On the Altiplano, the llama is everywhere, herded by Aymara and Quechua families from Lake Titicaca to Sajama National Park, often grazing near wild vicuñas.
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
In Bolivia, ocelots live from the Amazon lowlands of the north to the Chiquitano dry forest and the dry Chaco forests of the southeast, where long camera trap studies in Kaa Iya del Gran Chaco National Park have tracked them for years. They thrive wherever dense vegetation offers cover. Clearing for cattle and soy, and frequent fires, are the main threats, above all in the Chiquitano forest. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Sloth
Folivora
Sloths live in the lowland rainforests of northern Bolivia, in Pando, Beni and northern La Paz, and in the humid Yungas forests on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Two species are found here: the brown throated three toed sloth, the species in the photos, and Hoffmann's two toed sloth, which climbs higher into the mountains. Forest clearing for cattle and crops is the main threat, but large Amazonian forests still remain. IUCN status: varies by species.
Spider Monkey
Ateles spp. (7 species)
In Bolivia lives the Peruvian or black spider monkey, in the lowland forests of the north and east, in Pando, Beni, the lowlands of La Paz and Santa Cruz. Madidi and Noel Kempff Mercado national parks protect large areas of its habitat. It needs tall, connected forest to find fruit, so the advance of cattle ranching, soy farms and fires in the Bolivian lowlands is the biggest threat to its future here. IUCN status: Endangered.
Hare
Lepus europaeus
In Bolivia, the European hare is a recent arrival that spread north from Argentina in the second half of the twentieth century. It now lives in the southwest of the country, in high valleys and grasslands where open land suits it. Studies estimate it advanced about 30 kilometers per year, and it is considered an invasive species that competes with native plant eaters and can damage crops. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Cougar
Puma concolor
Bolivia's extraordinary variety of landscapes gives the cougar an unusually wide range within a single country, from the high grasslands of the Altiplano to the Amazon basin lowlands in the east. It preys on deer, viscachas and other native species, and it is the second largest cat here after the jaguar. Habitat conversion for agriculture and retaliatory killings by livestock farmers pose ongoing threats to its populations.
Anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
In Bolivia the giant anteater lives in the lowlands of the east and north, with its best habitat in the Beni savannas of the Llanos de Moxos, one of the largest tropical savannas in South America, and in the Chiquitano and Chaco regions of Santa Cruz. It also uses gallery forests along rivers. Farm expansion and the fires set every dry season to clear land are its main threats. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus (complex of four species)
In Bolivia, the nine banded armadillo lives in the eastern lowlands, from the Amazon forests of the north to the Chaco of the south, in forest, savanna and farmland. Bolivia has one of the highest armadillo diversities in South America: the giant armadillo, the southern three banded armadillo and several hairy armadillos share the lowlands, and the Andean hairy armadillo lives on the high plateau. Its shell was traditionally used to make the charango, the small Andean guitar, which today is almost always made of wood. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
In Bolivia, capybaras inhabit the flooded savannas and wetlands of the Llanos de Moxos in the Beni Department, one of the largest seasonally flooded plains on Earth. They are also found along rivers in the Amazonian lowlands. Social groups gather near water sources during the dry season. The species is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN and remains relatively stable in Bolivia.
Giant Otter
Pteronura brasiliensis
In Bolivia, the giant otter lives in the Amazon lowlands of Beni, Pando and northern Santa Cruz, with important populations along the Iténez River and in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. Families of several otters, often more than five, fish in slow rivers and oxbow lakes, sharing them with caimans and capybaras, and defend their stretch with loud calls. Gold mining and mercury are the main threats. IUCN status: Endangered.
Guanaco
Lama guanicoe
Guanacos are among Bolivia's rarest mammals, with fewer than 200 left, and the country's Red Book lists them as Critically Endangered. Most survive in the dry Chaco of the southeast, near Kaa-Iya National Park and in a 285,000 hectare reserve declared by the Guaraní of Charagua Iyambae, with a few more in the highlands of Potosí and Chuquisaca. Hunting, roads and oil exploration threaten them. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Bolivia holds some of the largest jaguar populations in South America, in the Amazon forests of the north, the Bolivian Pantanal in the east and the Chaco in the south, where Kaa Iya National Park protects dry forest. Madidi and Noel Kempff Mercado are also key refuges. Bolivia has been hit hard by the illegal trade in jaguar teeth headed to Asia, and by fires and forest clearing. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Llama
Lama glama
Bolivia has the largest llama population in the world, kept by herding families across the altiplano and the high valleys of Oruro, Potosí and La Paz. At more than 4,000 meters, llamas thrive where few other livestock can survive. Their dung is a vital cooking fuel in the treeless highlands, their wool is woven into traditional textiles, and llama caravans still carry salt from the great salt flats. IUCN status: not evaluated.
Opossum
Didelphis spp. (6 species)
Bolivia has three large opossums: the common opossum in the Amazon lowlands of the north, the white eared opossum in the Chiquitano dry forests and the Chaco of the southeast, and the Andean white eared opossum in the valleys of the Andes. They move easily between dense jungle, dry woodland and farms, climbing with their prehensile tails as they forage at night. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Red Howler Monkey
Alouatta seniculus group
Bolivia's red howler is the Bolivian red howler, Alouatta sara, which lives only in Bolivia and southern Peru. It is found in the northern and central lowlands and the foothills of the Andes, from about 100 to 1,200 meters, in rainforest and flooded forest. Forest clearing for cattle and soy, roads and hunting are reducing its numbers, and the IUCN expects it to keep declining. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Squirrel Monkey
Saimiri spp.
Bolivia gives its name to the Bolivian squirrel monkey, which lives in the Amazon lowlands of the north, between about 50 and 500 meters. It has a darker cap and a rounder white arch over each eye than its relatives. Troops move along rivers and flooded forest in Pando, Beni and the lowland parts of La Paz, including the lower forests of Madidi National Park. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Tapir
Tapirus spp.
Bolivia has lowland tapirs across its Amazon rainforest, the Chiquitano dry forest, the Chaco and the Pantanal, where they stay close to rivers and swamps. Protected areas such as Madidi and Noel Kempff Mercado National Parks hold some of the best habitat left, and Kaa Iya, in the Chaco, protects tapirs in a much drier landscape. Clearing for cattle and soy is the main threat. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Maned Wolf
Chrysocyon brachyurus
In Bolivia, the maned wolf lives across the Beni and Santa Cruz departments, where the Cerrado and Chiquitano dry forests meet open savanna. It travels alone across large territories, eating everything from small rodents to wild fruit. Cattle ranching has steadily reduced its habitat, and collisions on rural roads are a growing concern. Bolivia plays an important role in the regional survival of this species.
Marsh Deer
Blastocerus dichotomus
In Bolivia, the marsh deer lives in the seasonally flooded savannas of the eastern lowlands, from the Llanos de Moxos in Beni to the Bolivian Pantanal near the Brazilian border. In the far northwest of La Paz, it also inhabits the Pampas del Heath, shared with Peru. Aerial surveys found the deer spread at low densities, and cattle ranching, burning and farming keep shrinking its habitat. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Pampas Deer
Ozotoceros bezoarticus
In Bolivia, the pampas deer lives in the lowland savannas of the east, in the seasonally flooded grasslands of the southeast near the borders with Paraguay and Brazil, and in small pockets in Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. It is one of the least studied populations of the species, and the clearing of savannas for ranching and farming is a growing threat. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Vicuña
Vicugna vicugna
Bolivia has one of the largest vicuña populations in South America. The biggest herds live on the Ulla Ulla plateau, in the north of La Paz, and on the Altiplano of Oruro and Potosí, including the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve near the Uyuni salt flat. Close to disappearing in the 1970s, they recovered, and Aymara and Quechua communities now shear them alive in chakus and sell the fiber. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Brocket Deer
Mazama, Subulo and Passalites spp.
Bolivia has several brockets across its varied landscapes. The red brocket lives in the humid forests of the Amazon lowlands, the gray brocket in the drier Chiquitano forests, the Chaco and the Bolivian Pantanal, and the Vulnerable dwarf brocket in the cloud forests of the Andean Yungas. Deforestation for cattle ranching and farming keeps shrinking their habitat, making forest corridors essential. IUCN status: varies by species.
Jaguarundi
Herpailurus yagouaroundi
Bolivia's jaguarundis live in the Amazon lowlands, the savannas of Beni, the dry Chaco forests and the foothills of the Andes. They are good swimmers: one was seen crossing the Tuichi River in Madidi National Park. They hunt by day for rodents, birds and reptiles along forest edges and riverbanks. Fires and forest clearing for farming are growing threats. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Margay
Leopardus wiedii
Bolivia hosts margays across its northern and eastern lowland forests, from the Amazon basin to the transition zones of the Chiquitano dry forest. This tree cat hunts at night in the canopy, catching small monkeys, birds and lizards. It shares these forests with the ocelot and the jaguar. Forest loss driven by farming and fires is the main threat to the species in the country. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Spectacled Bear
Tremarctos ornatus
In Bolivia the spectacled bear, known as the jucumari, lives in the Yungas cloud forests and on the eastern slopes of the Andes, in protected areas such as Madidi. Bolivia and Peru together hold about two thirds of the species' range, and the Bolivian Andes are its southern limit. Bears often raid maize fields, and the conflict with farmers is one of the main threats along with forest loss. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Iguana
Iguana iguana
The green iguana is native to Bolivia's tropical lowlands, in the Beni and the north of Santa Cruz and Pando, where warm rivers and forest cover give it ideal conditions. It does not reach the Andes or the Altiplano. Along the Mamoré, Beni and Madre de Dios rivers it is often seen basking on branches over the water, and rural communities sometimes hunt it for food. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Anaconda
Eunectes murinus
The green anaconda lives in the Amazonian lowlands of Bolivia, mainly in the Beni and Mamoré river basins. The Llanos de Moxos, a huge savanna that floods every rainy season, is its best habitat in the country, with oxbow lakes, swamps and gallery forests full of caimans, capybaras and fish. In the dry season it concentrates around the remaining water. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Caiman
Caiman spp.
Bolivia has at least four caimans. The yacare caiman is abundant in the Llanos de Moxos of Beni and the Bolivian Pantanal, the spectacled caiman lives in the Amazonian rivers of the north, the black caiman in lakes of the Beni and Pando, and Cuvier's dwarf caiman in forest streams. Since the late 1990s Bolivia has run a sustainable harvest of yacare caimans, managed with local and indigenous communities. Illegal hunting and fires remain concerns. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Rattlesnake
Crotalus and Sistrurus (about 40–50 species)
Bolivia's cascabel (Crotalus durissus) lives in the dry Chaco lowlands of the south and in the savannas and cerrado woodlands of the east, but not in the high Andes or the dense Amazon forest. The Chaco, one of the driest ecosystems in South America, suits this ambush hunter well. Its venom can be strongly neurotoxic. Persecution and the clearing of land for cattle ranching are the main threats. IUCN status: varies by species.
Yellow Anaconda
Eunectes notaeus
In eastern Bolivia, the yellow anaconda lives in the flooded savannas and river margins of Santa Cruz, especially in the Bolivian Pantanal and the Otuquis wetlands near the border with Brazil and Paraguay. It feeds on fish, birds and small mammals at the water's edge. Though rarely seen, it is an important wetland predator. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Boa Constrictor
Boa constrictor
In Bolivia the boa constrictor lives in a wide variety of habitats, from the Amazon lowlands in the north to the dry Chiquitano forests and the Chaco scrublands in the east and southeast. It is one of the most commonly found large snakes in the country, often near farms, where it hunts rats. Agricultural expansion keeps reducing its habitat. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Barn Owl
Tyto alba
In Bolivia, the barn owl lives in open country from the lowland savannas and farmland of the east to the dry valleys and the high Andean plateau, where it is one of the few owls found at great altitude. It roosts and nests in old buildings, church towers, cliffs and hollow trees and hunts mice and other rodents at night. Locally it is often called lechuza or lechuza de campanario. The IUCN lists the barn owl as Least Concern.
Scarlet Macaw
Ara macao
In Bolivia, the scarlet macaw inhabits the tropical lowland forests of the Amazon and Madidi regions in the north of the country. The Madidi National Park provides vital habitat where pairs nest in tall trees and visit clay licks along riverbanks to obtain minerals. Habitat loss in the Bolivian Amazon remains a pressure on local populations. The IUCN lists the species as Least Concern globally.
Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
The peregrine falcon visits Bolivia as a migratory traveler, moving through the Andes and the lowland plains of the east. It hunts other birds in open skies above grasslands, wetlands, and river valleys. Some subspecies breed in the rocky cliffs of the Andean highlands, while others pass through seasonally. Its speed and precision in the air make it one of the most striking birds of prey seen across the country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Andean Condor
Vultur gryphus
The Andean condor is Bolivia's national bird and sits at the top of its coat of arms. It soars over the high Andes and puna grasslands of the west, and is most often seen in the departments of La Paz, Oruro and Potosí, where open terrain and herds of llamas and livestock provide food. Like elsewhere, poisoned carcasses left for pumas and foxes are its main threat in the country. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Flamingo
Phoenicopteridae (6 species)
Bolivia's Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve, in the southwestern corner of the country, is one of the most spectacular flamingo destinations in South America. The vivid red waters of Laguna Colorada host thousands of Puna and Andean flamingos at altitudes above 4,000 metres. All three South American species can be spotted across Bolivia's network of altiplano lakes and salt flats.
Harpy Eagle
Harpia harpyja
In Bolivia, the harpy eagle inhabits the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin, particularly in the departments of Beni, Pando and Santa Cruz. These vast and largely intact forests support one of the more stable populations of this raptor in South America. It is an apex predator here, targeting tree dwelling mammals like sloths and large monkeys from its high perches. IUCN status: Vulnerable.
Hornero
Furnarius rufus
In Bolivia, the rufous hornero is found in the lowland regions of the east, particularly in the Chiquitania and the Gran Chaco, where open woodland and grassland provide ideal foraging ground. It searches the soil for insects, worms, and spiders, and raises its dome shaped mud nest in visible spots along forest edges and farmland. Its IUCN status is Least Concern.
Monk Parakeet
Myiopsitta monachus
In Bolivia, the monk parakeet is found in the lowland savannas and dry forests of the eastern and central parts of the country, including the Chaco and the department of Santa Cruz. It lives in flocks and builds large stick nests shared by several pairs. Its close relative, the cliff parakeet, lives in the Andean valleys and nests in rock crevices. It adapts well to farmland and is common around rural communities. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Rhea
Rhea americana
The greater rhea is the largest native bird in the Americas, reaching up to 1.5 meters tall. In Bolivia it lives in the savannas and grasslands of the eastern lowlands, including the Chiquitano region and the Chaco, where jaguars sometimes hunt it. Males build ground nests and raise their chicks on their own. It often feeds on beetles and grasshoppers. IUCN status: Near Threatened.
Southern Lapwing
Vanellus chilensis
In Bolivia, the southern lapwing is a common bird of the lowlands, especially the seasonally flooded savannas of the Beni and the farmland and pastures of Santa Cruz, and it also lives in open valleys on the eastern slopes of the Andes. Higher up, on the altiplano, its relative the Andean lapwing takes its place. It is a vocal presence in open country, nesting along roadsides and in wet meadows. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Toco Toucan
Ramphastos toco
In Bolivia, the toco toucan lives in the open lowlands of the east and north, especially the seasonally flooded savannas of the Beni, the dry forests of the Chiquitanía and the Chaco, and the edges of the Pantanal in Santa Cruz. It prefers savannas, gallery forests and palm groves to dense rainforest, and it often visits farms and towns. Its huge orange bill and deep croaking calls make it a familiar sight in open country. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Southern Caracara
Caracara plancus
In Bolivia the southern caracara is common in the lowland savannas and wetlands of Beni and in the dry Chaco of the south. It spends a lot of time on the ground, eating carrion and the insects that cattle stir up as they graze. Because it does well in both flooded plains and dry scrub, it is one of the birds of prey that people see most often in the country.
Rufous bellied Thrush
Turdus rufiventris
In Bolivia, the rufous bellied thrush reaches the western edge of its range in the Yungas forests of the Andean foothills and in the lowlands of Santa Cruz. It favors humid forest edges and clearings where fruiting trees and open ground are both close at hand. Less abundant here than in Brazil or Argentina, it is still a regular resident in suitable habitat and is easy to recognize by its far carrying song. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Lesser Kiskadee
Philohydor lictor
In Bolivia, the lesser kiskadee lives in the northern lowlands, reaching south into the departments of Cochabamba and Santa Cruz. It stays beside slow rivers, oxbow lakes, swamps, and grasslands that flood in the rainy season, perching low on shrubs over the water and darting out to snatch insects from leaves or the surface. Pairs are easy to find by their buzzy, nasal calls along Amazonian waterways. IUCN status: Least Concern.
Amazon River Dolphin
Inia geoffrensis
Bolivia's river dolphins, called bufeos, live in the rivers of the Beni and the Madeira basin, such as the Mamoré, the Iténez and the Yacuma, isolated from the rest by rapids. They are smaller and have more teeth, and some experts treat them as a separate species. Near Rurrenabaque, visitors can swim in the Yacuma while dolphins come close. In 2012 Bolivia declared the bufeo a national natural heritage. IUCN status: Endangered.
Frequently Asked Questions
What animals live in Bolivia?
Bolivia is home to the jaguar, cougar, ocelot, spectacled bear, maned wolf, tapir, capybara, sloth, giant otter and several monkeys, plus the Amazon river dolphin in its northern rivers. In the Andes live vicuña, llama, guanaco and Andean condor, and flamingos gather on the salt lagoons of the southwest. Its forests have harpy eagle, scarlet macaw and toco toucan, and its wetlands have caimans and anacondas.
Is the llama the national animal of Bolivia?
Many sources say so, but no Bolivian law names an official national animal. The llama appears on the coat of arms and is a symbol of the Andean highlands, where it has been raised for thousands of years. The Andean condor sits at the very top of the same coat of arms and is the animal most often called the national bird.
Where can you see vicuñas in Bolivia?
The best place is the Ulla Ulla plateau, inside the Apolobamba protected area north of La Paz, which has the densest vicuña population in the country. Counts there grew from about 6,500 animals in 1996 to almost 11,800 in 2009, and local communities now shear live vicuñas to sell their fine wool. Vicuñas can also be seen on the Altiplano of Oruro and Potosí and in Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, near the Uyuni salt flat.
What wildlife can you see in Madidi National Park?
Madidi, north of La Paz, rises from Amazon rainforest near Rurrenabaque to snowy Andean peaks, and a scientific expedition there recorded more than 1,000 bird species. It shelters jaguar, tapir, spectacled bear, spider monkey, red howler monkey, harpy eagle, scarlet macaw and toco toucan. Lodges inside the park run guided walks, and the nearby Pampas del Yacuma wetlands are best for capybaras, caimans and river dolphins.
Are there pink river dolphins in Bolivia?
Yes. The Amazon river dolphin, called bufeo in Bolivia, lives in the rivers of the Bolivian Amazon, especially in Beni along the Mamoré, Iténez and Yacuma rivers. Rapids long kept these dolphins apart from the rest of the Amazon, so they are often treated as their own species or subspecies. In 2012, Law 284 declared the bufeo part of Bolivia's natural heritage and made its protection a priority.
Researched and written by Juan Pablo. Sources: IUCN Red List, scientific literature and regional field guides. Last updated: .