GuanacosPhotograph by Wildlife Conservation Society
A group of guanacos nervously graze a Patagonian field with the Andes Mountains rising in the background. Guanacos, relatives of the now domesticated llama, once inhabited the grasslands and mountains of Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile in the millions. Over-hunting reduced populations dramatically, however, and government protections have been necessary to restore their numbers. They have rebounded well, but are still listed as a vulnerable species. |