EL REY NATIONAL PARK

ANIMAL WILDLIFE
The characteristics of the Park are perfect for the development of many animal species, showing a great diversity in vertebrates: 16 species of fish, 11 species of amphibians, 21 species of reptiles, 255 species of birds and 50 species of mammals have been found.

For Those who love nature or bird watchers: travellers may observe birds of amazing sizes and colours as well as all kind of animals, El Rey is a green paradise, the habitat of by tapirs, deer (Mazama gouazoubira) and the red legged chuña birds (Cariama cristata) that run to hide among the foliage of the hackberries, cedars and flowering tipa trees.

Here, the word "extinction" does not exist, because even the most endangered spcies enjoy a life of fullness, oblivious to the dangers and countdowns set by the pressure of humanity's modern life.

The soil of the Park accumulates huge amounts of energy in the form of rotten leafs and humus, which contribute to the conservation of great quantities of water. Due to the decomposition of organic substances, the soil of the forests have an acid ph, resulting in an enormous alimentary plant foodd, which gives impulse to the natural chain that goes through fishes, amphibians and reptiles, to end with the great predators like cats and birds of prey.

Plants and animals in El Rey must interact in order to exist. These are some of the birdes you will find here: pava del monte or Spix's Guan (Penelope obscura) and the charata (Ortalis canicollis) feed on fruits from trees and bushes like the hackberry (Celtis tala), chal-chal (Allophilus edulis), chal-chal de gallina (Vassobia breviflora), tusca (Acacia aromo), walnut (Juglans australis), espina corona (Gleditsia amorphoides), amongst others.

An very interesting bird is the red-legged Chuña (Cariama cristata), easy to watch when near the Mayor's house of the Park and the hotel, for it builds its nest of about one metre in diameter in the highest trees of the surroundings. It is a fast runner that feeds on small insects, amphibians, snails or little reptiles.

Of all the mammals dwelling in this vast protected territory, one that stands out is the corzuela parda (Mazama gouazoubira) the only deer with presence in this National Park. The pleasant animal has a diet composed of herbs and tender blossoms and again, as the food chain laws demand, becomes prey to the mighty puma, wildcats and foxes that are part of the fauna of the Del Rey Park. The Brown deer may be seen while foraging on the pastures near the hotel of the Park. They are animals that dwell in the woods and in open spaces.

Among the "renowned" mammals figures the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), an animal that is in the list of endangered species, shows aquatic habits, and spends lots of time in the pools and rivers of the jungle. It also has nocturnal habits, seeking to feed on herbs and grasses, which is the reason that makes him a great seed disseminator. The tapir, specially the young ones, can be hunted by the puma. In order to prevent that, nature has provided a protective white spotted camouflage, which allows the animal to mimic with the vegetation when light beams pass through the foliage.

This place gives shelter to other endangered species like the caí monkey (Cebus apella) and the White lipped peccary (Tayassu pecarí).

To mention some predators, the puma (puma concolor) is placed in the highest place on the food chain. This awesome animal hunts small mammals and birds to feed upon. To achieve this, the cat needs to move across ample territories, like the jungles and the forests of the Chaco.

On the Patitos Lake lives a great diversity of species of aquatic birds. Some regular species are the coot, the so-called pollona negra, the cutirí duck and the maca or macacito gris.

There are big scores and variety of vipers like the rattlesnake, the pit viper (Bothrops alternata) or yarará, coral and also lots of other snakes. As to fish, they are found in rivers and ponds forming incredibly dense shoals of shads, along with catfish and dorados.