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