This female “huemul” –Southern Andean deer-, was found and photographed on February 7th hanging around Hotel Salto Chico in Torres del Paine National Park. The huemul is Chile’s national emblem and a part of the coat of arms. Since 2006 is protected under natural monument status and sadly, for almost 35 years has been considered an endangered species, with only a few hundreds of them remaining these days in the Patagonian Andes of Chile and Argentina. They are peaceful and quiet herbivores, which usually live in rocky and difficult to access habitats in groups of two or three specimens, although it is known to man that they sometimes prefer life in solitary. They feed on Lenga trees – endemic to the southern Andes– and more than 30 types of plants and their only predator is the Puma or Cougar.
A small colony of an estimated of twenty huemules was known to live in Torres del Paine National Park, in the forests near Grey Lake. They were sometimes photographed by visitors on their trek to the glacier. After the wildfires it was of great concern what had happened to them; luckily we have proof that this friendly beauty is well and happily taking a walk and posing for the flashes around our lodge.
Awesome!!!