Chubut is one of the Argentinean provinces that are in Patagonia and is characterized by its rugged coastline and endless plateau covering most of it. Although one might think that there is scarce life there, it offers the possibility to observe a lot of animals in its natural environment.
The Valdez Peninsula is located 77 km from "Puerto Madryn" and it is a touristic place. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This place is exceptional to watch different types of animals, one of the most prominent is the southern humpback whale (Eubalaena Australis) that is in danger of extinction. This whale is slow and when dead its carcase stays on the water. That's why hunting it was very easy and convenient. Now, they are protected in the area and its characteristics allow to watch them from a short distance and if lucky, you can see its tail, which is an emblem of the province.
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| A whale attacked by a seagull. Seagulls infringe them serious wounds. |
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| The great tail. It is a show that can be seen only in a few places in the world. |
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| Another view of the tail, which is an emblem of the Chubut's province. |
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Another animal that is found in that place is the sea elephant of the species M. leonina. It has also an endangered status due to its widespread hunting done in the nineteenth century. Sea elephants spend 80% of their time at sea, so it is a privilege to see them. Usually, they go ashore to have a change of skin, which is used as a thermal insulation of the cold waters. That's why it's common to see them frolicking on the beaches of the Peninsula Valdez or sunbathing nearby.
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| Two female elephant seals sunbathing on the beach. |
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| A baby close to his/her mother. |
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| Because they are protected, they have lost their fear to humans and it is possible to get closer to them and share the beach. Similar to what we do in the famous beaches between humans. |
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| They are very friendly and they like to get snapshots from tourists. |
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| They are very expressive but they can easily loose their temper. So it is recommended to move slowly and always hire an experienced guide to visit them. |
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Despite their size, sea elephants and sea lions have predators such as the Orca, which has a special hunting way in the Chubut. Orcas hunt them out in the beach. It is a very dangerous action for the them, because they may be stranded on the beach.
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| It is not common to see Orcas hunting because they hunt in a large area only on certain periods of the year. |
Sea lions are also part of the fauna of the region and differ from the elephant seals in the way they walk. The males are easily recognized due to their resemblance to land lions.
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| A male sea lion close to its harem |
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| The beaches of the Peninsula are a great environment for sea lions and sea elephants. |
Penguin are other typical species that can be seen on the coast of Chubut, mainly in Punta Tombo, which is a penguin reserve. They are from the Magellanic penguin species (Spheniscus magellanicus) and they go this shore for breeding.
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| The megallanic penguin is a curious and friendly animal. |
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| Although a bit clumsy on land, its way to walk is elegant. |
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| A parent caring for their young. The tenderness that show parents in the care of their children is remarkable. |
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| It is very nice to watch them. |
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| The reserve of Punta Tombo penguin is filled at the end of the year. All come with a single mission: to procreate. |
But that's not all, there are still many other species that can be seen in Patagonia as the famous guanaco running in all Patagonian pampas or the armadillo (Chaetophractus villosus), both are also found in Peru or Bolivia. You also can find here the Comerson dolphin, which lives only in this part of the globe.
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| Chaetophractus villosus, is also threatened by hunting and habitat loss. |
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| The elegant guanaco from the Lama family (Lama Guanicoe). |
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| Tonina overa or Commerson's dolphin (Cephalorhynchus Commersonii). It is a dolphin found only in the south hemisphere. Characterized by its fast movements. |
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| The dolphins use to follow the ships near Rawson port. |
Finally, the list of animals that may be found is endless and for a nature photographer, this place is a real heaven. It is worth noting the effort made by the government for their conservation and hopefully this will continue in time for the benefit of humankind.
In the latter part of this series we will see the mountains in Bariloche, Patagonia. We advise you not to miss it!
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