Wildlife of São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo sits on the edge of the Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened biodiversity hotspots, and its city parks still hold black-tufted marmosets, capybaras and dozens of hummingbird species. Cantareira State Park on the northern edge of the metro is one of the largest urban forests on Earth and holds toucans, tapirs and puma tracks.
Best timeSeptember – November for spring flowering and hummingbird activity.
- 1Cantareira State Park inside São Paulo holds pumas and tapirs.
- 2The city has more parakeets than any European capital.
- 3Maned wolves live in the outskirts near Serra da Cantareira.
Signature species
Curated for São Paulo, Brazil, each tagged with its IUCN Red List status.
- NT
Maned wolf
Chrysocyon brachyurus
- VU
Lowland tapir
Tapirus terrestris
- LC
Puma
Puma concolor
- EN
Muriqui (woolly spider monkey)
Brachyteles arachnoides
Cantareira has a small population.
- NT
Red-tailed amazon
Amazona brasiliensis
IUCN codes — EX extinct · EW extinct in wild · CR critically endangered · EN endangered · VU vulnerable · NT near threatened · LC least concern · DD data deficient
Dos & don'ts
Local etiquette that keeps wildlife wild.
Do
- Support SOS Mata Atlântica reforestation.
- Report roadkill on SP-highways to CENAP.
- Keep distance — use zoom or binoculars, never bait animals closer.
- Stay on marked trails to avoid trampling nests, burrows and plants.
Don't
- Don't buy songbirds at feiras — the trade is illegal.
- Don't wander Cantareira alone — bushmaster snakes are present.
- Never feed wildlife — human food changes behaviour and shortens lives.
- Don't share exact locations of nests, dens or rare species online.
Spotted here lately
Live from iNaturalist — research-grade observations within 60km, last 30 days.
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