Península Valdés is home to the deepest salt marshes in South America and, most importantly, is a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals. It has been denoted a World Heritage Site because it is considered an area of important and significant natural habitat for in-situ conservation of several threatened species, specifically its globally-important concentration of breeding southern right whales, an endangered species. It is also home to important breeding populations of southern elephant seals, southern sea lions and Magellanic penguins. In addition, this area is the only location in the world that exhibits a hunting technique adaptation by the orca (killer whale). Their unique surfing technique has been featured by National Geographic and studied intensely by researchers.
The inner part of the peninsula is inhabited by rheas, guanacos and maras, among other wildlife. A high diversity and range of birds also live in the peninsula; at least 181 bird species, 66 of which migratory, can be found in the area, including the Antarctic pigeon. Several historic sheep estancias also remain operational within the reserve.
