The animals found in Peru are extremely diverse and differ from region to region.
Peru has over 30,000 known species of plants and more are being identified every day. There are millions of types of insects, 500 species of reptiles and over 400 species of animals. Peru also has about 1,700 species of birds (the second-highest number in the world) and 2,000 species of fish.
Some of the more common animals you might see in the highlands include llama, alpaca, guanaco and vicuna. Of the four only the llama and alpaca are domesticated. Llamas are used as pack animals, for their wool and as food. Alpaca are used almost exclusively for their fine wool. Guanaco and vicuna run wild and are rarely seen although vicuna can be seen in preserves in the mountains outside of Ayacucho. Other animals in the highlands include pumas, foxes, white-tailed deer and viscachas. Viscachas look like a cross between a rabbit and a squirrel and live amongst the rocks on the mountain slopes. The large Andean condors may also be seen.
In the Amazon basin you can find caiman (small alligators), pink dolphins, jaguar, sloths, the Andean spectacled bear, tapir, the giant river otter, several species of monkeys including the howler, spider and squirrel species, and over 1000 types of birds.
In the Pacific Coastal region you can see fur seals, sea lions, Humboldt penguins, guanay cormorants and Peruvian boobies as well as pelicans, gulls and frigate birds. A great place to view the sea and wildlife is the Paracas National Reserve near the town of Ica.
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