Wildlife in the Iwokrama Road Corridor

The construction of the road has introduced a uniquely new habitat into the Iwokrama Forest. Many animals have responded positively to the road and pro-actively use the open space and abundance of non-forest plants. Nearly 40% of all non-flying mammals known to occur in the Iwokrama Forest have been sighted at least once on the road or at road verges.

Although an extremely rare sighting on the road, this Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus tridactylus) was spotted making its way very slowly across the road on one of its weekly trips to the ground.

(See sloths in the online mammal guide.)

Photo courtesy T. H. Silcott

Commonly sighted species on the road

Mammals

• Jaguar (Panthera onca)
• Brazilian Tapir (Tapirus terrestris; at night)
• Red Brocket Deer (Mazama americana, see hoofed animals in the online mammal guide.)
• Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis, see carnivores in the online mammal guide.)
• Red-rumped Agouti (Dasyprocta agouti, see rodents in the online mammal guide.)
• Crab-eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous; at night)