Tinfunqué National Park

Tinfunqué National Park

Tinfunqué National Park was created in 1996 on an area of 280,00 hectares. It protects the wet Chaco ecosystem and the historical sites of the Chaco War between Paraguay and Bolivia. This refuge is also important for wildlife reproduction. The Chaco is home to a wealth of wildlife. The larger animals in the region include jaguar, ocelot, puma, tapir, Giant Armadillo, Giant Anteater, several species of fox, numerous small wild cats, agouti, capybara, Maned Wolf, Palustrine Deer, peccaries, including the endemic Chaco Peccary, and guanaco. The region is home to abundant and diverse birdlife and has one of the largest populations of the Great Rhea, a large, flightless South American bird. More than 400 species of fish live in the streams, including the salmon-like dorado and the carnivorous piranha. The area is home to numerous insect species, some of which are a nuisance to travelers. There are also plenty of reptiles, with many lizards and at least 60 known species of snakes, among them many pitvipers and constrictors. The area is also home to a number of unique amphibians, such as the iconic wax monkey frog Phyllomedusa sauvagii and the coraline frog Leptodactylus laticeps. Tinfunque has been declared a Ramsar Site and is therefore included in the list of the Wet areas of international importance. It covers an area that remains flooded during high water levels in the Pilcomayo River and has large natural grass plantations. Many of the shrubs in the area have adapted to the floods, and animals such as ñandy, wild ducks, storks, chaja, carpincho and yacares also live here.