The Amazing Animals of Peru

The biodiversity in the Peruvian Amazon is among the highest on the planet, and researchers from around the world travel to Peru to study rare animals and their behavior. From ocelots and jaguars to giant armadillos that can weigh up to 70 pounds, Peru is home to amazing array of animals. Researchers who set up camera traps for the Peruvian Amazon Biodiversity Project are building a collection of fascinating photos of animals that are rarely seen in their natural habitats. Even if you aren’t planning a trip to Peru with your family, you can pique your children’s curiosity about this fascinating country by sharing this website about the animals of the amazon. The project is sponsored in part by the Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity (MAB) program at the Smithsonian National Zoological Park in Washington, D.C. Teams of Peruvian and American scientists are currently measuring the effects oil companies have on biodiversity in areas like the Peruvian Amazon, and if it is possible to minimize any negative effects to the array of animals that live there.