A great number of ecological communities live in this natural paradise called Torres del Paine National Park. This is a very significant characteristic for it reveals the absence of humans. As a result, this commune becomes one of the country’s regions with the highest density and wildlife diversity.
One of the main attractions of the Park is the great diversity of existing animals: 118 recognized birds, 26 mammals, 5 fish, 6 reptiles, 3 amphibians. Some of these species have become very abundant, such as the guanaco and others are in danger of extinction or vulnerable, such as the huemul (native deer) and puma. All of them have an important role in the biodiversity chain of the Park. That is why the significance of protecting, caring and preserving these species, allowing them to last more in time.
This has become the most important population of mammals within the wildlife protected area. The number of animals fluctuates between 2600 to 2900 in the park. The areas where these animals live are open and the vegetation is low. They can be seen in the park near Laguna Amarga, Sarmiento Entrances and Laguna Azul.
It is an herbivore which lives in the steppe; its natural predator is the puma. In a wildlife environment, it can live over 15 years. It runs 60 to 70 km/hr and jumps up to 140 cm high. It is 120 cm high. Adults weigh 110 to 120 kg while the offspring are 11 to 13 kg. Its hair is 15% pure wood. The offspring is called “chulengo” and it is born after 11 months of gestation.
This is the biggest land carnivore in Chile. It is 270 cm from the head up to the tip of its tail and weighs 90 kg average. It gets a couple only for mating and after a gestation period of 92 days, one to four offspring are born in caves or among dense bushes. They will be with their mother for two years. The puma hunts, preferably, at night. They hunt guanacos, huemules, (native deer) foxes, hares, skunks and rodents.
It is 60 to115 cm tall from its head to its tail and weighs 7 to 12 kilos. It lives in mountainous zones and forests. It has one delivery in the year, with an average of three cubs which are brought up until they are 2 months. It is essential to mention the importance of the fox in the population control of hares, rodents and “caiquenes” (native geese), which would increase enormously without the existence of natural predators.
It is the biggest native deer in Chile. It is 90 cm tall and weighs between 75 and 100 kg, its hair is tubular and dense. The males are very different from females because the first ones have got horns which fall off once a year. It is herbivore and lives in the forest zones where trees and bushes are perennial, especially in the Grey sector inside the park where it has been observed alone or in groups of 2 or 3 animals. The gestation period is of 6 to 7 months, having only one offspring between November and December.
Its hair is grey yellowish with several black spots all over its body, except the throat and abdomen: it has two longitudinal lines on each cheek. It is 70 and 110 cm long up to the tail and weighs between 4 and 5 Kg. It lives in forests, bushes and the steep. It is nocturnal and nuthatch, and eats hares, rodents and birds. The gestation lasts 72 to 78 days, having 2 offspring between December and May.
It is known for its powerful defense mechanism throwing a secretion of bad smell which comes from its anal gland, highly irritating when get contact with the skin. It is 60 cm long up to the tail and weighs around 2 kg. It is dark brown or black with a longitudinal white strip to each side of its back. It is found widely distributed in the Park living in areas of steppe and bushes. It is an animal of solitary behaviour, nocturnal habits; it digs sets and is omnivore. After a nine-week gestation period, it has 3 to 7 offspring.
It is 95 to 100 cm tall, and weighs 30 to 40 kg. It does not fly, however, has big and strong feet to run long distances, reaching a speed of 60 km/hr. it lives in steppes and bushes. The male is the one that is in charge of elaborating the nest and incubates the eggs of different females during 35 to 40 days; there is not apparent sexual dimorphism.
This vulture is 110 cm tall and it can measure 3 m (with the wings open). The male is different from the female because the first one has a red crest. The youngest do not have the white collar. The female lays only one egg every two years and its incubation period lasts between 57 and 63 days. The breeding time of the offspring is one year and a half. The condor is essentially a bird that eats carrion. Therefore, it does not practice predation because its claws are not adapted for hunting. It just takes big preys while flying. It is possible to see this magnificent bird in almost every place of the Park.
This is the only parrot in this zone and the southernmost in the world. It is admirable its capacity to resist cold. It is 35 cm tall and has beautiful green wings with some metal blue. These birds have couples or form small groups and they move in the treetop looking for seeds, acting as dispersers of these. They also eat tender shoots of Nothofagus. There is no apparent sexual dimorphism.
This is the most abundant goose and the biggest in the region. It is 65 to 70 cms. The male has white head and chest and yellow feet. It nests in the ground, sometimes in bushes away from the water. It always lives with its couple in lagoons, lakes, wet pastures of shrubs and steppe.
It is the biggest carpenter of America. It is 45 cm tall. The male has a intense red head with an occipital tuft; black body, a supporting strong pointed tail. The female has black head and body with some red in the base of the beak. It is easily found in mature forests of lenga, where it eats insect larvae. The strong hammering of its beak on the trunks put visitors on the alert of its presence.
