Colombia (Lonely Planet, 5th Edition) - Jens Porup [31]
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Colombia is the only South American nation to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
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WILDLIFE
Colombia claims to have more plant and animal species per square kilometer than any other country in the world. Its variety of flora and fauna is second only to Brazil’s, even though Colombia is seven times smaller than its neighbor. Colombia’s abundance of wildlife is the result of the country’s varied climate zones and microclimates, which have spawned diverse ecosystems and allowed wildlife to evolve independently.
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Animals
From pink dolphins to colorful parrots, tiny cats to giant rats, Colombia has some of the most diverse animal life on the planet. It has nearly 1700 recorded species of birds – 74 of which are native to the country – representing about 19% of all the birds on the planet. Colombia also has about 450 species of mammal (including 15% of the world’s primates), 600 species of amphibian, 500 species of reptile and 3200 species of fish.
Some of the most interesting mammals include sleek cats such as the jaguar and the ocelot, red howler monkeys, spider monkeys, the three-toed sloth, giant anteaters, the goofy piglike peccary and tapir, and the hideous-looking capybara, or chiguiro, the world’s largest living rodent that can grow to 48cm tall and weigh 55kg.
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Bird-watching enthusiasts should pick up A Guide to the Birds of Colombia (1986) by Stephen L Hilty and William L Brown. Two great online resources for bird-watchers are www.colombiabirding.com and www.proaves.org.
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The waters of Colombia’s Amazon are home to the famous rose-colored boto (Amazon River dolphin), the Amazonian manatee, and one of the most feared snakes, the anaconda (Eunectes murinus). Contrary to the Jennifer Lopez movie, anacondas are rarely longer than 6.1m (20ft). Still, that’s a big-ass snake.
Colombia’s famous aviary includes 132 species of hummingbirds, 24 species of toucans, 57 types of colorful parrots and macaws, plus kingfishers, trogons, warblers and six of the world’s seven vultures, including the Andean Condor – a national symbol of Colombia.
There is also abundant marine life in the country’s extensive river systems and along its two coastlines. The islands of San Andrés and Providencia boast some of the largest and most productive coral reefs in the Americas. In 2000 Unesco declared this area the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve in order to protect the ecosystem. The reefs are considered among the most intact in the Caribbean and play an important ecological role in the health of the sea. They provide feeding and nesting grounds for four species of endangered sea turtles and numerous types of fish and lobster. It has been determined that the health of certain fish stocks in the Florida Keys hinges directly on their ability to spawn in the Colombian reefs.
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Colombia is the world’s third-largest exporter of coffee (after Brazil and Vietnam). Between December 2007 and November 2008, Colombia exported nearly 700 million kg of coffee beans. For more info on Colombia’s coffee, visit www.juanvaldez.com (no joke!).
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ENDANGERED SPECIES
The vast savannah of Los Llanos is home to some of the most endangered species in Colombia. Among them is the Orinoco crocodile, which can reach 7m in length. According to The Nature Conservancy, only 1800 of these crocs remain in the wild, making it one of the most critically endangered reptiles in the world. Other endangered creatures from Los Llanos include the Orinoco turtle, giant armadillo, giant otter and black-and-chestnut eagle.
The cottontop tamarin, a tiny monkey weighing just 500g, and its larger cousin, the brown spider monkey, are two of the most critically endangered primates