Boqueirão da Onça National Park

Boqueirão da Onça Overview

Boqueirão da Onça National Park, known locally as Parque Nacional do Boqueirão da Onça, is a vast protected area in the northeastern state of Bahia, Brazil. Covering an impressive 3,872 square miles, or roughly 10,027 square kilometers, this park is one of the largest in the Caatinga biome and serves as a critical conservation stronghold in the semi-arid interior of the country.

Located near the municipalities of Sento Sé and Campo Formoso, the park lies in a region where the São Francisco River carves deep canyons and sculpted rock formations across an arid and ecologically rich terrain.

The landscape of Boqueirão da Onça is defined by rugged cliffs, broad plateaus, dry riverbeds, and isolated rock towers that punctuate the horizon. Notable geological features include towering sandstone escarpments and the region’s namesake, the “Boqueirão” — a deep gorge that slices through the arid plateau.

The vegetation here is primarily Caatinga scrubland, a unique Brazilian biome consisting of drought-resistant plants such as thorny bushes, cacti, bromeliads, and deciduous trees that shed their leaves during the dry season. In some protected pockets, semi-deciduous forest and riparian corridors add greenery to the otherwise austere landscape.

The park plays an essential role in protecting rare and endemic wildlife species of the Caatinga. Visitors might spot elusive mammals such as the ocelot, giant armadillo, or the critically endangered Spix’s red-handed howler monkey. Perhaps the most iconic inhabitant is the jaguar, which finds one of its last strongholds in this semi-arid ecosystem.

Birdlife is rich and diverse, with sightings of the Caatinga parakeet, Lear’s macaw, white-browed guan, and the endangered hooded visorbearer hummingbird. These species, many adapted specifically to the Caatinga, underscore the park’s ecological significance.

Popular features of Boqueirão da Onça National Park include its dramatic canyons and prehistoric rock art sites. Several archaeological shelters display ancient petroglyphs and cave paintings, indicating the long-standing human presence in the area.

These cultural treasures are often located along rock walls or within natural overhangs and are considered sacred by some local communities. The São Francisco River also adds a scenic and recreational dimension to the otherwise dry environment, providing opportunities for kayaking and riverside exploration.

Visitors can experience the park through guided hikes, birdwatching tours, and exploration of archaeological and geological formations. Due to the park’s remote location and limited infrastructure, most visits require local guides familiar with the harsh terrain and sensitive ecosystems.

The park is also a destination for scientific research and conservation education, drawing ecologists and biologists interested in studying the Caatinga biome.

Conservation in Boqueirão da Onça faces persistent challenges. Habitat degradation due to illegal hunting, deforestation, and land conversion for agriculture threatens biodiversity. However, the park’s creation in 2018 marked a major success in Brazil’s effort to protect the Caatinga biome, which is underrepresented in the national conservation portfolio.

Since its designation, collaborative management initiatives involving indigenous communities, local NGOs, and the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (ICMBio) have improved monitoring, land protection, and awareness of the park’s importance.

Continued efforts are needed to expand ecological corridors, enforce environmental regulations, and invest in sustainable tourism that benefits local livelihoods while preserving the park’s ecological and cultural integrity.