Colombian Amazon Wildlife: Jaguars, Tapirs & River Dolphins
The Colombian Amazon around Leticia has one of the world's most intact large mammal communities — jaguars, tapirs, giant otters, and multiple monkey species inhabit the forests accessible by boat from the city
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Jaguar: Apex of the Amazon
The jaguar - America's largest cat - lives in the primary forest around Leticia in one of the continent's most intact populations; camera trap data from the Amacayacu area show a healthy breeding population; guided night tours sometimes yield sightings
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Giant River Otter Families
Giant otter families live in the river systems around Leticia — the groups of 6-10 animals are active, vocal and visible on guided canoe tours; otters' playful behavior, their family coordination when fishing and their loud calls make them the most charismatic mammals in the Amazon
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Woolly Monkey Troops
The Lagothrix woolly monkey - one of the Amazon's largest primates - lives in troops in the primary forest around Leticia; the social complexity of woolly monkeys, their use of tools and their emotional expressiveness make them the most compelling primates to observe
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Amazon River Turtle
The giant South American river turtle—the tartaruga—nests on the sandbanks of the Amazon near Leticia; the nesting beaches are monitored and the hatchlings released are a conservation success story; the turtle's size (up to 80 cm) and antiquity make it the Amazon's most impressive reptile
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Harpy Eagle Nest Sites
The eagle owl — the world's most powerful eagle — nests in the primary forest around Amacayacu Park near Leticia; The Tikuna communities know several settlements; guided visits to observe the nesting pair and their prey (sloths and monkeys) are extraordinary
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Amazon Manatee
The Amazon manatee - the world's only entirely freshwater manatee - inhabits the quiet flooded lake systems (cochas) around Leticia; the manatees graze on aquatic vegetation in the flooded forests; rescue program has rehabilitated several manatees in the Leticia area