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Mountains and Wildlife: The biodiversity of the Ausangate trek

You might think you won’t encounter any flora and fauna along the Ausangate trek. Wrong! Despite being one of the highest-altitude routes, there is still wildlife to appreciate, including some farm animals, which are undoubtedly an incredible bonus for your trip.

Among all the recommendations you found in “What to Bring on the Ausangate Trek,” bringing a camera is the best if you encounter something unexpected. A camera is always useful, not only for shooting stunning landscapes but the flora and fauna inhabiting along the hike.

In this journey, I’ll introduce you to some species you may find with relative ease. Remember, the key to observing them is patience, attention, and choosing the right moment.

Flora and Fauna of the Ausangate Trek

Flora on the Ausangate Trek

Throughout the trail, you’ll inevitably be accompanied by some bushes and some small trees. While most plants aren’t large, you’ll find species like the Queuña or Quiswar typical of high Andean distribution. You’ll also come across wetlands and small Andean flowers. One element you can’t miss on the route is the ichu or paja grass, which covers much of the trail.

Fauna on the Ausangate Trek

During the Ausangate Trek, you can also spot local wildlife, although it’s important to consider that the high altitude limits the variety of them. Most animals are solitary and prefer to avoid humans out of fear, so observing them may require patience, attention and distance.

On the route, you may encounter animals like pumas, vizcachas, condors, mice, and the Andean foxes. Remember, probably luck or being in the exact moment plays a big role in finding them; when reaching the mountain passes along the route, it’s not common to see biodiversity because as higher you reach, life is tough and scarce.

On the other hand, you may come across farm animals like sheep, horses, donkeys, alpacas and vicuñas, which are very common in the area. Some of these animals are food and wool resources, which are necessary at levels where only some tubers grow due to cold temperatures.

While the Ausangate trek presents a harsh environment, it hosts some specialist birds and mammals of high Andean mountains, making their protection essential. If you carry plastic or potential garbage during your hike, avoid throwing it on the trail, or leave no trace and conserve the whole area of the Ausangate. Bring back everything and dispose of it in a proper place.

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