Endangered Animals of Peru

Animals are considered endangered when they are atdeclining numbers may include reduction of prey,
risk of extinction, either because there are only a smallharvesting of plants that their prey is dependent on,
number of them left, due to threats from changes toand hunting by humans. The Yellow Tailed Woolly
their environment, shifting of predator to prey ratios,Monkey, (Oreonax flavicauda), is a rare primate
and other factors. Nations over the last 50 years havespecies found only in the Peruvian Andes. There are
developed laws to protect species form becomingless than 250 of these monkeys left in the northern
extinct; however few species actually get on thesePeruvian cloud forests. They have thick hair and long
lists. Many become extinct without the attention orprehensile tails. They eat fruits, leaves, flowers, and
protection of humans, though it is true that in probablybuds. Loss of habitat due to destruction of forests for
all cases over the last century, the machinations ofagriculture and cattle-ranching has contributed to the
humans have caused the imbalances that have led tocritically endangered status of these monkeys. The
the disappearance of thousands of animal and plantAmazon Pink River Dolphin, (Inia Geoffrensis), known
species. Especially within the last century and a half,as boutu by the inhabitants of the jungle, is classified as
species have been becoming extinct at a higher ratea vulnerable species on the endangered species list. It
than at any time in history. In the case of the Amazonis one of only five species of freshwater dolphins in
Rainforest, which covers parts of Peru, Ecuador,the world. It inhabits muddy rivers, relying on
Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil, the loss ofecholocation to hunt for prey. These dolphins may be
habitat created by farmers who cut down trees andpink or pale blue; they are often albino. Factors
burn whole tracts of jungle for cattle grazing and cropthreatening these unique animals include damming,
production, may result in unknowable consequencesbuilding canals and diversion of river courses. The
for the entire planet. The Amazon has been called theThree-Toed Sloth (Bradypus Variegatus), the smaller
lungs of the planet, and its further destruction couldmember of the sloth family, inhabits the Amazon
accelerate global warming, with devastatingrainforests of Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela,
consequences for humans and most of the speciesBrazil and Argentina. It is the slowest moving mammal
on Earth. Some endangered species of Peru are: Theon Earth, and is physiologically incapable of keeping its
Andean Condor: (Vultur Gryphus) was put on thebody temperature stable. In this way, it resembles
Endangered Species list in 1973 by the US Fish andsnakes and other reptiles. It moves so slowly that
Wildlife Service. These majestic birds are found in thealgae grows on its fur, giving it an iridescent green
Andes Mountains, and along the coast of Peru,glow at night. It is only able to live in warm, humid
Argentina, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia and Bolivia. Factorsenvironments. Because of the encroachment of
in their endangerment include hunting, deforestation, airhumans into their habitat, these creatures are
pollution and food and water contamination, as well aspotentially endangered. The Marvelous Spatuletail
reduction in available food supply (declining populationsHummingbird, (Colibrí Admirable), is a species of
of prey). Their slow reproductive rate is also a factor,hummingbird that is found only in the jungles of
as they lay eggs only every second year. There is notNorthern Peru. The species is unique because it has
yet an accurate census of the numbers left, thoughonly four tail feathers, two of which end in
there are believed to be only a few thousand left inspoon-shaped "spatules;" each of the two feathers
the wild The Amazonian Manatee, (Trichechusresembling a spatula, with an elongated “handle”
inunguis), is a freshwater species of manatee, foundand the round “spatula” part at the end. The
throughout the northern Amazon River Basin and itsmales use their tails in a fascinating courtship display,
tributaries. It is the smallest of the three manateeduring which they whirl their tails and perform
species, and a few are found in Peru, Ecuador andacrobatics to impress females. They have been
Colombia. All manatees are entirely aquatic mammalsconsidered endangered since 2000, and has been
that do not leave the water for the duration of their lifedeclared the “regional bird” for the Amazon
cycle. They feed on plants and water vegetation, andregion of Peru. There are many ways in which we
are gentle, non-aggressive animals with flippers ascan take steps to help our environment and
forelimbs and no hind limbs; rather they possess a flat,endangered species, some of which can start right at
cylindrical shaped tail. Factors in their endangeredhome. We can take simple steps to reduce the
status include hunting, drowning in fishing nets, and lossamount of energy we consume, such as washing our
of food supply resulting from deforestation. Theclothes in cold water and turning off lights when we
Andean Cat, (Oreailurus jacobita) considered amongleave a room. We can also join with and support
the five most endangered cats in the world, isorganizations who are actively involved in helping the
considered critically endangered. It is found in the highrainforest, such as Kuoda Tours brings travelers to
regions of Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, and is oneremote regions of the Amazon where they can see
of the shyest and least known cats in existence.the rainforest firsthand and gain a greater
About the size of a housecat, Andean Cats feed onunderstanding of this vital area and the amazing
several classes of mice, small birds and rodents. Alongdiversity of species therein. We have a variety of
with the Pampas cat, (Oncifelis colocolo), it is known asspecial interest and activities, including bird watching
"osqhollo" by the Quechua. Factors contributing to itsand jungle trekking.