Paso Bravo National Park

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Paso Bravo National Park, located in northeastern Paraguay, and is part of the Gran Chaco and features a mix of dry forests, thorny scrublands, and rolling hills, creating a challenging but ecologically rich environment. Due to its isolation, it serves as a crucial refuge for many endangered and elusive species, including some of Paraguay’s most iconic wildlife.

Jaguar
As the top predator in the park, the jaguar roams the dry forests and riverbanks, hunting capybaras, peccaries, and deer.

Puma
Highly adaptable to different environments, the puma is a stealthy predator that preys on smaller mammals such as rodents and armadillos.

Chacoan Peccary
An endangered species unique to the Chaco, the Chacoan peccary is a pig-like mammal that forages for roots, fruits, and dry vegetation.

Giant Anteater
Using its long tongue and sharp claws, the giant anteater consumes thousands of ants and termites daily, playing a key role in insect population control.

Lowland Tapir
The largest land mammal in the park, the lowland tapir is an essential herbivore that helps disperse seeds throughout the dry forests.

Maned Wolf
Recognized by its long legs and reddish fur, the maned wolf is a solitary omnivore that feeds on small mammals, birds, and fruit.

Ocelot
A nocturnal wild cat, the ocelot is an agile hunter that preys on small mammals, birds, and reptiles in the forest undergrowth.

Crab-eating Fox
A highly adaptable canid, the crab-eating fox thrives in the park’s open areas and woodlands, feeding on fruits, insects, and small vertebrates.

Black-and-white Tegu
One of the largest lizards in South America, the black-and-white tegu is an opportunistic predator of eggs, insects, and small animals.

Plains Viscacha
A large nocturnal rodent, the plains viscacha is commonly found in burrows and serves as an important prey species for carnivores in the park.

Birds

Paso Bravo National Park is also an excellent destination for birdwatching, offering a wide variety of species adapted to dry Chaco forests and grasslands.

Red-legged Seriema
A tall, ground-dwelling bird, the red-legged seriema is known for its loud calls and its ability to hunt snakes and small rodents.

Toco Toucan
Easily recognizable by its large orange bill, the toco toucan is often seen in the park’s forests, feeding on fruit and small insects.

Crowned Solitary Eagle
A rare raptor of the Chaco, this eagle hunts small mammals and birds, playing an important role as a top predator.

Spot-winged Falconet
One of the smallest raptors in South America, the spot-winged falconet is a skilled hunter of insects and small birds.

Blue-crowned Parakeet
A vibrant and social bird, the blue-crowned parakeet is commonly seen in noisy flocks, feeding on seeds and fruit.

Many-colored Chaco Finch
A brightly colored finch endemic to the Chaco, this species is often found foraging in the dry forests and open areas of the park.

Chaco Chachalaca
A turkey-like bird with loud, repetitive calls, the Chaco chachalaca is commonly seen foraging for fruits and leaves in the park’s forested areas.

Burrowing Owl
Unlike most owls, the burrowing owl is active during the day and nests in underground burrows, often using abandoned armadillo dens.

Great Rufous Woodcreeper
A large, distinctive woodcreeper, this bird climbs tree trunks and probes into bark to find insects.

Black-bodied Woodpecker
A striking bird with black-and-white plumage, this woodpecker is well adapted to dry forests, where it searches for insects in tree bark.

Paso Bravo National Park’s remote landscapes, rugged terrain, and diverse wildlife make it one of Paraguay’s most important conservation areas. As a haven for rare Chacoan species, the park plays a crucial role in protecting some of South America’s most threatened ecosystems, offering visitors a unique opportunity to explore the wild and untamed beauty of Paraguay’s northern Chaco.