Wildlife
Among the most exotic mammals (for a European) are, for example: the jaguar, the puma, the giant anteater, the capybara, the peccary, or the tapir. These species are difficult to observe, however, you can easily come across an armadillo, an agouti, or a coati. Reptiles include iguanas, chameleons, turtles, frogs, and a hundred species of snakes, including the spectacular anaconda. Of all the snakes in Paraguay, only eleven are dangerous if bitten with venom injections.
The yacaré is a medium-sized caiman (between 1.30 m and 3 m), found throughout Paraguay. In the whole of the Pantanal, there are more than 10 million of them, making it the largest colony of crocodilians on earth! It feeds on small vertebrates, aquatic insects, piranhas and, in case of severe hunger, capybara. Its predators are the jaguar and the anaconda, but above all man, who appreciates its skin and meat. The rivers and lagoons of Paraguay are full of fish. Fishing is authorized outside the months of veda de pesca (periods of prohibition, to allow the reproduction of the species in particular). The dorado and the surubí are very appreciated for sport fishing. Piranha, pacú (piranha-like species), mandi'i (bagre), carimbatá (sábalo), manguruju (zungaro) and rays also inhabit Paraguayan waters.
Paraguay is also a paradise for birdwatchers. From the ñandu guazú (a kind of ostrich), which does not fly, to the picaflor (hummingbird), which flaps its wings 80 times a second, from the majestic eagle to the toucan with its long, colourful beak, from the parrot that speaks Guarani to the urracá that imitates other birds, not forgetting the national bird that sings like a bell, there are more than 700 species of birds recorded in Paraguay. A good number of them can be seen in the city, in gardens and squares. The bay of Asunción is even very famous for bird watching. Butterflies are also numerous, of all shapes and colours. Let them land on you for good luck!
The flora
Paraguayans are well aware of the virtues of plants, especially those that they put in the iced water of the thermos flask to embellish their tereré, the famous remedios or yuyos. Vegetation is abundant in Paraguay, except where the monoculture of soya has passed... The most characteristic trees in Paraguay are the palm trees, with three very characteristic species (karanda'y, pindó and mbokaja or cocotero), the lapacho, the bougainvillea, the ceibo (Erythrina crista-galli), the timbo (Enterolobium contortisiliquum), the jacaranda (flamboyant blue), the yvyrapytã (Peltophorum dubium), the tarumá (Vitex cymosa), the samu'u or palo borracho ("drunken tree"), the cedar, the mango tree and of course the yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), which is a tree and not a grass, as its name might suggest.
Ecoregions
Paraguay is at the confluence of several "ecoregions" in South America. These ecological regions are areas of land and water with very specific geological, geographical, climatic, faunal and floristic conditions and ecosystems. Biologists and geographers generally distinguish six of them in Paraguay. A geographical area is at the confluence of several of them, and is sometimes also considered an ecoregion in itself. The characteristics of each are briefly described below.
Chaco Húmedo. This ecoregion is located along the Paraguay River in the Bajo Chaco and Ñembucú. It covers about one-third of Paraguayan territory. It is characterized by a large number of lagoons and swamps, and extensive karanda'y palm groves. Storks, ñandú, capybara, and a large number of yacarés can be seen. One of the most curious animals in this region of swampy meadows is the aguará guazú, or maned wolf. It is the largest canid in South America. It looks more like a big fox than a wolf. Perched on high legs, it's around four feet tall. It has a reddish red coat, a white tip of tail, and black lower legs, snout and mane, which is famous for its black mane. Omnivorous, it feeds on small rodents such as agoutis, rabbits, armadillos, reptiles, birds, insects and fish, but half of its diet consists of fruit!
Pantanal. The Pantanal is the largest freshwater floodplain in the world. More than 150,000 km², divided between Brazil, southeastern Bolivia and northeastern Paraguayan Chaco. The Pantanal is flooded for much of the year. After the summer rains, the water level can rise by 5 meters and spread over 200 km around the Paraguay River. The vegetation is half submerged for much of the year and resists sudden changes in water levels. It is one of the richest regions in the world in terms of biological diversity, a true sanctuary for fauna and flora, which unfortunately has been seriously affected by the fires of the dry season of 2019.
Chaco Seco. The Chaco Seco covers 42% of the national territory. It has xerophytic vegetation, low forests of thornbushes, and various types of cacti. The quebracho, samu'u and palo santo are the emblematic trees of the Chaco Seco. The region is home to many migratory birds that gather around the fresh and salt water lagoons, big cats (jaguar, puma, yaguarundi), armadillos, tapirs and the famous taguá, the emblematic species of the Parque nacional Teniente Agripino Enciso.
Cerrado. The Cerrado is present in the northern part of the eastern region (departments of Amambay, Canindeyu and Concepción) and in the north of Chaco Seco. This savannah is characterized by a large plant mass with dry vegetation and the presence of numerous bromeliads. There are innumerable rivers with crystalline waters, white sandy beaches and limestone rocks. The surroundings of Vallemí (Department of Concepción) are attracting more and more tourists, especially for its caves and magnificent river beaches.
Bosque Atlántico del Alto Paraná (BAAPA). The Atlantic forest covers southern Brazil, northeastern Argentina and eastern Paraguay. Landscapes range from humid meadows to high and dense cordilleras forests. WWF classifies this regional ecosystem as one of the most biologically important in the world. The Atlantic forest of Alto Paraná is severely degraded, with 93% of the original vegetation cover gone, and is estimated to cover only 400,000 hectares. The Reserva San Rafael and the Reserva Natural Del Bosque Mbaracayú are the best preserved areas. The ecoregion has more than 50 mammals (jaguar, puma, ocelot, tapir, capybara...) and 530 bird species.
Mesopotamia pastizales. In the extension of the humid Chaco, this ecoregion covers the Ñeembucú, in the southwest of the eastern region. It is characterized by extensive pastures and swamps, which are home to a high biodiversity. The most representative species are the jata'i palm and swamp deer.
Central Paraguay. Located in the central and western part of the eastern region, it is a transition zone with the other ecoregions that surround it. Some biologists consider it to be an ecoregion in its own right. Its topography ranges from moist grasslands, lagoons, dense forests, gentle undulations, and rocky hills. It includes karanda'y, typical of the Bajo Chaco, and dry shrubs of the Cerrado. It is the most urbanized area of the country, but it is also where the greatest number of bird species can be observed (594 out of the 722 recorded in Paraguay).
From nature to national symbols
Pájaro campana (guyra póng ): the national bird. While the female is completely mute, the male, with his musical and resonant song, similar to the sound of a bell, inspired the harpist Félix Pérez Cardozo, author of one of the most famous pieces of Paraguayan music: Guyra campana. This song consists of a series of powerful metallic "clinc", resembling the blows of a hammer on an anvil. It is probably the most deafening sound made by a bird! The species is critically endangered. It can be seen and heard in the reserves of San Rafael and Mbaracayú.
Lapacho (Handroanthus impetiginosus ): the national tree. This tree with a solid trunk, about thirty meters high, belongs to the bignoniaceae family. In spring, it is covered with a coat of yellow, pink or purple flowers. Its Guarani name is jajy ("resistant"). The Guarani have been using its bark as a decoction for ages to treat various ailments: anaemia, snake bites, respiratory problems, rheumatism... The inside of the bark contains iron, antibiotics, antiseptics, antivirals, trace elements and many minerals.
Flor de mburucuyá : the national flower. For some artists, the national flower is the jasmine of Paraguay, but the official version is that it is the flower of passion. Passionflower or mburucuyá is a climbing plant discovered by the Spaniards when they arrived in America. The plant took the name "passion flower" because the Jesuit missionaries used its flower, with its colourful crown, to represent the Passion of Christ to the natives. The pistils correspond to the nails of the Crucifixion, while the petals and sepals represent the apostles. The infused flower has relaxing virtues and the fruit is delicious as juice, mousse or ice cream!
