The Amazon is the backbone of Amazonia. But for painting wildlife I prefer smaller rivers. The Amazon near Leticia, Colombia – Brazil.

Ever since my first stay in Amazonia in 1992, the Orinoco has become my destiny. Orinoco, Venezuela.

Orinoco (Atures rapids), Venezuela – Colombia.

Cerro Autana (Rio Autana), Venezuela.

Cerro Autana, Venezuela.

Whilst the Orinoco is my "heart affair", I consider its tributary the Rio Atabapo to be the most beautiful river. Rio Atabapo, Venezuela – Colombia (photo Radana Dungelová)..

Rio Atabapo, Venezuela – Colombia.

Rio Atabapo, Venezuela – Colombia.

Brazo Casiquiare, Venezuela.

View of Brazo Casiquiare from Culimacare rock. Venezuela.

Culimacare rock (Brazo Casiquiare), Venezuela.

A lagoon on the Pasiba River (a tributary of the Casiquiare), Venezuela.

Rio Negro above San Carlos. Venezuela – Colombia (photo Radana Dungelová).

Caño Candela with Neblina in the background. Rio Pasimoni, Venezuela.

Rio Yatúa. Venezuela.

Rio Baria, Venezuela.

The monkey I painted on the bank of Rio Baria in 2004 was later determined to be a new species, the Neblina uakari (Cacajao hosomi, Boubli 2008). Laguna Danto, photo Radana Dungelová.

Probably the very first photo of Rio Baria bifurcation (2007). Maturaca Canal is on the left. Venezuela – Brazil.

Pico da Neblina from the Baria River (2994, the highest peak in Amazonia), Venezuela – Brazílie.

Macizo de la Neblina, Venezuela – Brazil (photo Radana Dungelová).

The Neblina range from Catipan rock (Rio Yatua), Venezuela.

Rio Caura is a right-hand tributary of the lower Orinoco. For me it is the gate to the Maigualida Mountains. Amazonia, Venezuela.

Para waterfalls on Rio Caura. Sierra Maigualida, Venezuela.

Sierra Maigualida, Venezuela.

Lino was one of my guides in the vicinity of the Hoti community. Sierra Maigualida, Venezuela.

Rio Nichare. Sierra Maigualida, Venezuela.

Rio Tabaro (Maigualida, Amazonia), Venezuela.

Rio Tabaro (Maigualida, Amazonia), Venezuela.

Rio Yuri (Maigualida, Amazonia), Venezuela.

Morning on river Yuri (jaguar). Sierra Maigualida, Venezuela.

Canaima, Venezuela.

Salto Angel (Auyan tepui, Amazonia), Venezuela.

Rio Tiputini (Yasuni, Amazonia), Ecuador.

Our friend the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) whom we have been meeting for several years near the biological station Yasuní. Rio Tiputini, Ecuador.

King vultures (Sarcoramphus papa) and black vultures (Coragyps atratus) feasting on the carcass of a black caiman. Yanayacu River, Pacaya-Samiria National Park, Peru (photo Radana Dungelová).

Rio Tuichi (Amazonia), Bolivia.

Rio Tuichi (Amazonia), Bolivia.

Jalajala canyon in the Torotoro National Park. Andes, Bolivia.

The red-fronted macaw (Ara rubrogenys) is one of the rarest birds. Jalajala canyon, Torotoro National Park. Andes, Bolivia (photo Radana Dungelová).

Meseta Huanchaca (Noel Kempff Mercado NP, Amazonia), Bolivia.

Meseta Huanchaca (Noel Kempff Mercado NP, Amazonia), Bolivia.

El Encanto waterfall (Meseta Huanchaca, Amazonia), Bolivia.

Tamandua (Tamandua tetradactyla) was displaying for Rady on the way to Huanchaca. Noel Kempff Mercado NP, Bolivia.

Biological station Rancho Grande is one of my favourite painting places in the montane forest ecosystem. Henry Pittier National Park, Venezuela.

Montane forest on the slope of Guacamaya peak (photo Radana Dungelová).

Groove-billed toucanet (Aulacorhynchus sulcatus). Rancho Grande, Venezuela.

Rady is crossing the mountain stream Esmeraldas up to the biological station Otonga founded by the remarkable man and biologist Giovanni Onore.

I had the first chance to paint a cock-of-the-rock (Rupicola peruviana) on the banks of Esmeraldas stream. Otonga, Ekvádor.

Otonga Reserve, Andes, Ecuador.

Giovanni Onore also founded Otongachi Reserve in El Chocó. Andes, Ecuador.

Cajas National Park. Andes, Ecuador (photo Radana Dungelová).

National park Cajas. Andes, Ecuador (photo Radana Dungelová).

Los Llanos is a region of vast savannas and wetlands. Perhaps most of my paintings come from there. Hato Corralito, Llanos, Venezuela.

Capybaras (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) are abundant inhabitants of swamps. Hato Corralito, Llanos, Venezuela.

The scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) is the symbol of the llanos for me. Hato Cañafistola, Venezuela.

A flock of wading birds near the road to Hato Cañafistola. Los Llanos, Venezuela.

We regularly come across giant anteaters (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) in the morning on Cañafistola farm. Los Llanos, Venezuela.

Hato El Cedral. Llanos, Venezuela.

I‘m trying to get close to the rare orinoco crocodile (Crocodylus intermedius). Hato El Cedral, Venezuela.

I succeeded. El Cedral farm is one of the last places where this giant crocodile still survives. Hato El Cedral, Venezuela.

Hato La Aurora. Llanos, Colombia.

Hato La Aurora, Llanos, Colombia.

Together with Nelson we are trying to catch and measure an anaconda. Its length was more than 5 m (photo Stefan Kardoš).

The Brazilian Pantanal is extraordinarily rich with wildlife. The local ecosystem of savannas and wetlands is very similar to that in Los Llanos. Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

Yacare caimans (Caiman crocodilus yacare) on the banks of Rio Negro. Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

The hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) is the biggest parrot in the world. Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

Black skimmers (Rhynchops nigra) on Rio Negro. Fazenda Barranco Alto, Pantanal, Brazil.

Almost the entire Pantanal is split up into cattle farms. Fazenda Sao Joao, Pantanal, Brazil.

Fazenda Sao Joao, Pantanal, Brazil.

Southern screamer (Chauna torquata). Fazenda Sao Joao, Brazil.

Porto Jofre, Pantanal, Brazil.

I met Rafael Hoogesteijn years ago in the Venezuelan llanos. Now, he works for the Panthera Foundation in the Pantanal, and it is mainly thanks to him that I have the chance to spot jaguars quite often. Rio Cuiaba, Brazil.

Fazenda Sao Bento, Pantanal, Brazil.

The swampy Llanos de Moxos in central Bolivia is difficult to access. It is home to the very rare blue-throated macaw (Ara glaucogullaris).

Laney Rickman Reserve is another place where we observed blue-throated macaws. Llanos de Moxos, Bolivia.

The spectacular Mata Atlantica rainforest is home to numerous endemic species of birds. Trinidade, Brazil.

Mata Atlantica (Trinidade), Brazil.