Bolivia

Bolivia is a landlocked country in west-central South America. It is about 1500 km long in the north-south direction and 1300 km in the east-west direction. The country has a rich history, having once been the center of the ancient Tiwanaku Empire and part of the Inca Empire from the 15th to the early 16th centuries. After the conquistadors arrived, Bolivia was part of the Viceroyalty of Peru and provided Spain with a vast silver wealth.  Bolivia's mountain fauna is characterized by the presence of members of the camel family, all of which are native to the Andes. There are llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas. The llama and the alpaca are domesticated versions of the wild guanaco that can be found in the mountains. The llama, a traditional beast of burden, is the largest animal in the Altiplano, rarely seen below 2300 meters. Also, a source of meat, wool, leather and tallow in rural Andean communities. The smaller alpaca is bred for its soft wool, although the wild, legally protected vicuña, which lives in the south and north of the Altiplano, produces even silkier wool. The highland rodents include the chinchilla, viscach, mara and cui. The Andean Condor roosts and breeds at altitudes between 3 000 and 4 900 meters. Lake Titicaca is home to a wide variety of smaller birds and waterfowl. For several months of the year, large flocks of flamingos appear on the shallow shores of Titicaca and further south around Lake Poopó. The rich wildlife of the northern forests includes mammals such as jaguars, sloths and tapirs, as well as many species of monkeys, and the forests are home to parrots and toucans.