Ibera Wetlands: an incredible wildlife

Well, you know that Ibera Wetlands is one of the most amazing natural places in Argentina and the second water reservoir after Pantanal in Brazil with an incredible biodiversity. But which animals can you expect to see during your visit?  Iberá is currently famous for its great diversity and abundance of grassland and aquatic species. Striking birds such as herons, storks, ducks, southern screamers, spoonbills, kingfishers, cormorants, snake-birds, jacana, rails, plovers and flamingos stand out in the first group. Plenty of caimans, capybaras, otters, and even the largest population of marsh deer in Argentina are found in these wetlands. Take a look to a list of more important animals you can watch during your trip to Ibera Wetlands:

The Capybara

The capybara is the world’s largest rodent and lives in Ibera Wetlands. These animals are usually in the water. At around 2 feet high and without a tail, the Capibaras are a friendly and curious animal. They are an icon of the area, and I`m sure you will cross a few of them during boat navigations, horseback ridings or activities you do during your stay.

The Deer (Ciervo de los Pantanos)

The deer, called in spanish Ciervo de los Pantanos, and also sometimes “The pampas deer” can be seen in the wetlands but they are very near of the extinction. Designated a natural monument in the Corrientes Province since 1992, they have slowly been shot out through encroachment on their natural habitat and can now only be found in the marginal areas of Argentina that cannot be grazed by cattle. It`s an amazing animal that can be seen in the wetlands. Be ready with your camera!

Giant anteater

This incredible animal is considered extint, because it was not seen lastly. There is a project to re-introduce the giant anteater again and so it is possible to go and visit and talk with the researchers and also to see a few of them in their enclosure.

Caiman

Caimans can be seen in the area when you take boat navigations in “lanchas” or during your kayak excursions. Also during horseback ridings. The caiman is the South American version of the alligator, but smaller. These reptiles can be found easily, and spend most of the daylight hours either lying in the sun or floating on the top of the water. Again, be ready with your camera!

Gian Otter

The giant otter is a carnivore native of South America and can be seen in Ibera Wetlands. It is the largest aquatic carnivore of this region and the largest otter in the world, measuring 1.8 m in length and weighing 33 kg. Amazing!  Giant otters are mainly diurnal, social and territorial animals. They use water courses to feed and move, although they spend much of their time on the mainland where they move easily. In general, otters live in family groups, in which only the dominant female gives birth from one to three cubs per year, which are taken care of by the whole family. You will enjoy the gian otter during your boat navigations in the Ibera Wetlands

Birds: more than 350 species

The area offers an incredible biodiversity of birds that can be seen during your visit. Some of them are the Ñandu, the Red Winged, Spotted, White-turfted, Pied Billed, Great or Maca Grande, the Bigua o Neotropic, Aninga, Garza Mora or white-necked, Rufescent, Whistling, Garza  Glanca, Snowy, Cattle, Pinnated, Stripe-backed, Mirasol Chico, Striated, Black-crowned, Wood Tuyuyu, Maguari or Cigueña Americana, the Yabirù, Plumbeous, Buff-necked, Bare-faced, White-faced, Roseate, the Cajà, the Muscovy, Comb, Fulvous, Black-bellied, White-faced iriri Pampa, Coscoroba, Black-necked swan, Brown duck, Specked duck, Red duck, Cinnamon duck, Whiote-cheeked duck, silver duch, rosy-billed duck, brazilian duck, ringed duck, Lesser Yellow-heated, turkey, and black lesser, Aguila Mora, Milano Blanco or white tailed, Aguila Negra, or great aguila, bay-winged, cinereous, bicolored, roadside, swainson`s, Gavilan Patas Largas, Aguila Coronada.