Endangered Animals in South America

The South American continent is vastly rich in flora and fauna. Its richness of biodiversity has favored many animals to thrive in the tropical rainforests of Amazon. Here, we discuss about some endangered animals in South America:

Scarlet Macaw: This endangered animal is found in the parts of southern Brazil and Mexico. It is one of the most popular parrots in the world, which have the ability to accurately mimic the human speech. A bright red crest and tail feathers, with yellow and blue spots on their wings make them very attractive. Because of its popularity, it is often sought as a pet. This popularity has led to their inclusion on the endangered animals list.

Mantled Howler Monkey: They are small animals weighing about twelve pounds. Tufts of hair on the sides of their face and their howling way of communication have given them this name. They are endangered due to habitat loss and troubles from natural disasters. Deforestation and encroachment on the forest lands have reduced the forest cover. This has caused a critical situation for them.

Harpy Eagle: This endangered animal is a large, white and dark gray eagle having a crest of feathers upon its head. It is the biggest and the most powerful eagle in existence. Monkeys and Sloth are their prey. They occasionally feed on reptile and birds. Hunting, logging, and destruction of rainforests have made them endangered animals.

Jaguar: They are found in large numbers in the tropical rainforests of Amazon. The rapid expansion of human population has destroyed their natural habitat, and made them endangered animals. Moreover, their prey such as deer, snakes, and sloth are also facing habitat loss, which has decreased their numbers. The decreasing availability of food has added to the endangerment of Jaguar.

Giant Otter: They are a native of the tropical rainforests in the Amazon. In addition to it, they are found in Brazil's Pantanal, which is the world's largest wetland. They can consume up to ten pounds of fish a day. They are social animals, and are found to live in group of ten otters.

This endangered animal has no predator other than human beings. It is widely hunted for its luxurious fur, which is among the finest in the world. Along with it, pollution caused due to mining and habitat loss due to human expansion has left them endangered. Increased tourism is yet another factor for their endangerment. An estimated 2,000 to 5,000 numbers of them are alive.

Conservation efforts for the Giant Otter require protection of their prey. Tourism should be regulated as the motor boats destroy their habitat. The tourists traveling in motor boats can come too close to the den of otters.

The endangered animals in South America need your conscious efforts to be conserved. They are a part of the ecological balance, and it is in the interest of the human beings to give them a chance to live in this world before it is too late.