Guanacos in Chile’s Patagonia. During our visit to Chile’s Patagonia and Torres del Paine we often encountered large herds of Guanacos in beautiful locations. This was great to see but also very encouraging for us as the main target of this visit was to see Pumas. Guanaco is one of the main prey species for these big cats. Watching Guanacos in Chile’s Patagonia is made special by the stunning scenery.
The guanaco is a native camelid of Patagonia, closely related to the llama and an integral part of the region’s ecosystem. Adapted to the rugged terrain and variable climate, guanacos have a dense, sandy-brown coat that helps them thrive in both cold and arid conditions. They stand up to 1.3m at the shoulder with a body length up to 2.2m and weigh 90-140kg. They can run at speeds up to 56km/h even over rocky and steep terrain. They live in herds comprising females and their young and a dominant male. These can come together to form very large groupings. Bachelor males form separate herds. Guanacos are herbivores, primarily grazing on grasses and shrubs. They are constantly on the alert for approaching Pumas.