Western Brazil, Brazilia, the Pantanal, Amazonia & Beyond by John Waggoner

Author:John Waggoner [Waggoner, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hunter
Published: 2010-12-08T16:00:00+00:00

Wildlife

Piranhas

The diversity and number of species in Amazônia is staggering, estimated to be as much as a third of the world’s total. Some estimate that there are 60,000 species of plants, 3,000 species of fish, 300 species of mammals, and 2½ million species of invertebrates!

For travelers, wildlife sighting is usually via small boats through the igarapés. Normally, this is part of the package at the jungle lodges. Most people get to hold an alligator on these trips. Underwater, alligators keep their mouths shut to avoid drowning and can’t bite anyone. So, at night, after spotting their glowing eyes with a lantern, your guide will grab one out of the water and pass it around, so you can take a photo.

At some spots, such as the Anavilhanas Archipelago in the Western Amazon, there are places to feed and swim with river dolphins called botos, which is an extraordinary adventure. In others, depending on the season, you might see turtle nests or monkeys and, if you are lucky, the most impressive Amazon creature of all – the jaguar.

You will usually get a chance to fish for piranhas too if you travel outside the cities. Don’t worry – these fish have a vicious reputation but are not as dangerous as people think unless there are huge schools of them. Piranha fishing is a novelty. For serious anglers, ecologically sustainable catch-and-release sport fishing is available the Western Amazon.

One great way see the local wildlife is to visit the parks, zoos, and museums in Manaus and Belém. Different than zoos in the rest of Brazil, the exhibits here are pretty good.

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