Wildlife Watching in Lihué Calel National Park

Information

The Lihué Calel National Park has within its boundaries an area with low mountain chains that provide humidity, in the middle of a wide bush steppe. This defines an environment inhabited by several species of wild fauna, many of which can be observed when walking through the park along its paths.

In the camping area it is common to see the Southern mountain cavy (Microcavia australis) peeping out of their small burrows, and at night the plains viscachas (Lagostomus maximus) come out of the larger caves covered with branches. Tourists are often approached by pampas foxes (Lycalopex gymnocercus), so it is recommended not to feed them or even try to touch them.

Guanacos (Lama guanicoe) can be seen everywhere, particularly on the Cerro de la Sociedad Científica Argentina. And Patagonian maras (Dolichotis patagonum) are frequently spotted when travelling along the roads that cross the steppe. Among the felines, the puma (Puma concolor) was recorded a few times.

As for reptiles, four-toed tegu (Teius teyou) are often found on the rocks. On the other hand, an endangered and rarely seen species is the Chaco tortoise (Chelonoidis chilensis).