from Amy Deane
Chinchillas are endangered due to exploitation of the animal for fur. Protected wild populations continue
to decline. Its habitat is threatened by human land alterations in north central Chile. Without funds, research and
conservation wild populations will be extinct in the near future (Jimenez, pers. comm.).
Chinchillas are originally gray in color with a small squirrel-like body, large mouse-like ears and a bushy
tail. The characteristic that they are best known for is their plush fur. Where humans have one hair from each follicle,
a chinchilla has more than 50 hairs from a single follicle (Meadow, 1969). An adult chinchilla weighs
between 400 and 500 grams. Chinchillas' gestation period last 111 days. One or two young are born eyes open, fully
furred and active or precocial. Sexual maturity is around eight months. Females can have up to two litters
per year. When compared to other rodents, chinchillas have a long gestation periods resulting in few offspring.
Chinchillas are nocturnal and live in colonies. Two species of chinchillas are recognized as: Chinchilla brevicaudata
(Blue Bolivian Chinchilla), and Chinchilla lanigera (Lanigera) (Nowak, 1991; Jimenez, 1996).
Exploitation for the fur trade to markets in Europe and North America started by the onset of the 19th century
and demand for the pelts continues today. Requiring a hundred pelts per coat, this fur is among the most expensive and
rarest in the world. "In 1928, a coat made of Bolivian pelts cost half a million gold marks" (Bickel,
1937). In 1992, a domestic chinchilla fur coat on sale at Elan Furs (Indianapolis, Indiana) cost $22,000.
The chinchilla population declined steadily because of hunting and trapping. At the end of the nineteenth
century, the once abundant animals had become endangered. Humans were hunting and trapping the animal for its fur
faster than the animal could repopulate themselves resulting in scarcity of the species. According to Meadow (1969),
"the disappearance of the once beautiful chinchilla alarmed the South American governments of Chile, Peru, Bolivia,
and Argentina. By 1918 all of them had placed an embargo on exportation of chinchilla furs, and had laws against
trapping the animal."
Of the 21 million killed, Iriarte (1986) reports that 7,179,640 pelts were exported from Chile between 1828
and 1916 (Jimenez, 1994). Chile enacted protection in 1898 but protection from hunting was probably too late for the
existing wild populations (1994, Thornback, 1969).
Any existing (or surviving) chinchillas were included among the endangered wild species mentioned in Appendix I
of the 1973 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Fauna and Flora" (Stehnke, 1990; Nowak, 1991; Thornback, 1969).
CITES places a ban on the exportation and importation of the animals and their pelts among agreeing
countries. Although wild chinchillas' range once extended to Peru and Bolivia, it is now extinct there
(Thornback, 1969; Jimenez, 1994). In Chile, wild chinchillas are listed as "En Peligro" or endangered (CONAF, 1988).
As early as 1937, people recognized chinchilla populations had been severely altered but could probably "re-establish
itself in 7 or 8 years" (Bidlingmaier, 1937). Since Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas- CNR's establishment 15 years ago,
the animal has not re-established itself. Populations within the reserve continue to decline without clear
explanations (Jimenez, 1994).
How fast can the animal reproduce and achieve recruitment? If a mated pair has two offspring which survive
in their first litter, replacement of the original pair has occurred. Any additional offspring are seen as recruitment
or population growth. Recruitment leads to higher populations, our optimal goal.
C. lanigera's original range included the foothills of the Andes in Chile from northwest of Potrerillos south
to Rio Choapa (1996). Wild C. lanigera was thought to be extinct (Noguer, 1970). In the mid-seventies, this species was
rediscovered in providence IV, Region de Coquimbo, Chile. To protect these colonies, Corporacion Nacional
Forestal -CONAF (the Chilean Park Service) established Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas-CNR in 1983.
Today, two disjunct populations of C. lanigera are located in this region of Chile. The northern distribution
near La Serena has one colony encompassing 46 ha (Jimenez, 1995). Located two hundred fifty km south near Illapel
are approximately 40 colonies (1995). These colonies house fewer than 4000 chinchillas (recalculated from Jimenez,
1995). Less than half of the known colonies are within the reserve. Sixty percent of the colonies "had less than
50 individual whereas none had more than 500 individuals" and covered from fewer than two to more than 113
ha (1995). Most colonies are located on northern facing slopes but rocky southern slopes also host some chinchillas.
Central Chile is geologically complex. In this region coastal mountains meet the Andean Range. These are crossed
by transverse mountain chains. Topography changes abruptly and the sandy foothills of the Andes prove to be a difficult
terrain for humans to climb. The area is dissected by an meandering intermittent river channel that
is dry most of the year. This area is a semi-desert biome with two distinct seasons: a dry hot season and a mild
wet season. Annual rainfall between 1980 and 1996 averaged 18 cm, most occurring during the winter wet season
of June, July and August. Vegetation assemblages are characteristic of semi-arid and mediterranean climates and include
many cacti and succulent species (Veliz, 1985).
Most Chinchillas burrow to create tunnels within Puya berteroniana, cardon plant (Mohlis, pers. comm. 1995).
A succulent, terrestrial bromiliad, cardon can be found on equatorial slopes. Practices of trying to encourage, entice
or force chinchillas out of their protective burrows led to the destruction of habitat. Chinchilleros (chinchillas
trappers) used smoke, fire and explosives "to drive chinchillas out of their burrows" (Jimenez, 1995). Disturbing
their habitat can increase stress and place the animal in alert and defensive behaviors. This disruption
reduces the amount of energy and time chinchillas have for rest and reproduction. Furthermore, structural damage to
burrows can block tunneling systems which the animal depends upon for safety when escaping from natural predators
which include foxes and birds of prey. A small proportion of chinchillas live in crevices among rocks.
Passive management techniques have apparently not resulted in increased chinchilla populations. Successful
conservation programs must utilize active management techniques in order to encourage increases in recruitment.
Fragmented habitat leaves gaps which prevent dispersal and expansion of chinchillas and colonies. Intra-colony
gene flow must be possible in order for the species to survive. This exchange of genetic material is more likely to
occur in areas where the species does not have to cross unprotected or hostile barriers in order to reach
potential mates. Practices of revegetation can reduce barriers to genetic flow encouraging recruitment eventually
resulting in higher populations. Actively creating habitat aids in conservation of this species by reducing
competition and barriers while increasing available resources.
Clearing land for hunting, mining and farming has resulted in habitat fragmentation as well as degradation.
Practices of revegetation should try to: close gaps in distributions, increase habitat and reduce competition.
Revegetation should include species which chinchillas depend upon. These should be planted to complement and expand
colonies and their interconnections or corridors.
Preservation and expansion of protected lands must continue in order to facilitate conservation efforts. Special
ecological areas need protection from human disturbances if endangered animals are going to survive. Expansion of
protected habitat must be planned, evaluated and carried out on an ongoing basis.
Save the Wild Chinchillas, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization formed to aid in conservation of wild chinchillas.
Its goal is to ensure that these endangered animals do not become extinct. In order to meet this goal we have three
objectives: educate people of all ages, collect funds to buy/protect land and create preserves, and promote
studies. In order to facilitate conservation including active management and ecosystem restoration, Save the Wild
Chinchillas is working with the Chilean Park Service and Chilean schools to educate people closest to the
wild colonies on how to help and not hurt chinchillas and their habitat. In the summer of 1997, Save the Wild
Chinchillas volunteers visited schools in Illapel, Chile to teach the children about chinchillas. Many of the
children had never heard of a chinchilla. We sent each child home with an ecological sound wild chinchilla story.
In November, donations to the organization allowed for more educational materials to be sent to the Chilean
schools. In July 1998, "Salve Las Chinchilla" pencils were sent to the local people as a constant reminder of the
species. Now that local people know of the animal, STWC is prepared to go to Chile and pay local land
holders to conserve the animals. This is the beginning of a community-based chinchilla sanctuary.
Every day members from around the world use educational materials available from the organization and its
web site to teach others about endangered chinchillas and their conservation. Our efforts will be rewarded and
chinchilla populations will prosper.
to
the Children´s Story about chinchillas
