The world’s smallest deer, a pudu, nibbles on Chilean rhubarb. The wildlife viewing is an experience available through Chiloé Natural’s adventure trips.

Trekking through the misty temperate rainforest in Parque Tepuhueico, a private nature reserve on Chiloé Island, I barely notice the trail mud streaking my pant legs. My eyes are too busy scanning past canelo trees and shrubs in search of pudu, the world’s smallest deer. Apparently, these animals and I have something in common: a fondness for a particular tart fruit.

“They love the leaves of the gunnera tinctoria , giant Chilean rhubarb,” says Cyril Christensen, our guide and owner of Chiloé Natural. While I prefer the mouth-puckering European variety baked into a flaky pie, the endemic version’s gigantic, fan-like foliage – with spi

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