Importance of protecting endangered … Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. Status: Endangered Range: Tasmania, Australia Why am I threatened? They are also threatened by chemical pollution in the water. Conservation Status. Why are sea otters endangered. The Giant Otter features a very long body, similar to that of a weasel. Sea otters once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but fur traders hunted them in large numbers and, consequently, reduced their population size. The Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered primate endemic to Borneo. The giant otter is the longest of the otter species but shares a similar weight with the sea otter.Male giant otters can attain a length of 1.5-1.7m (4.9-5.6ft). Name: Giant otter Status: Endangered Range: South America Why am I threatened? Many of us may think that why protecting endangered species is important. The giant river otter competes with … Why is the giant otter endangered? As its name suggests, the giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the world’s largest otter, more than twice the size of the world’s smallest otter, which lives in Asia.Giant otters … The giant otter, an endangered apex predator in Amazon river ecosystems, was nearly driven to extinction because of demand for its fur. However, there are several emerging threats to this sensitive species. I used to be hunted for my fur, but … It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a beautiful animal adapted for an amphibious lifestyle. Whatever is the reason but the fact is that now the protection of these endangered species is one of the priority issues across the globe. Although sea otters have the ability to walk on land, they are capable of living exclusively in the … Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). Excessive hunting for its pelts until the late 1970s caused the numbers to plummet. Despite a recent recovery in some areas following banning of the fur trade, the species now faces several emerging threats that remain poorly understood. It is large with a flat, black face and long orange fur. Hunting otters for pelts is now illegal, but laws against poaching are difficult to enforce in the areas where they live. Find out more about this beautiful mammal. The runoff from farms, oil drilling … Although giant otters have few natural enemies, they became the target of the international pelt trade in the 1940s, and by the early 1970s had been hunted to the brink of extinction. According to the International Union for Conservation, the Giant River Otter is endangered and considered extinct in Uruguay and likely extinct Argentina [6]. The giant otter is the largest of the world's otters. Well, there are many benefits to saving these endangered species. The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioral characteristics. 501c3 nonprofit conservation organization with a focal species, the critically endangered giant otter. The otter’s decline is mostly due to hunting for the pelt trade that peaked in the early 1970’s and habitat loss, which together led to local extinctions across the otter’s … The giant otter's fur is dense, thick and velvety and brown in color. The Giant River Otter is endangered because of poaching for its pelt in the 20th century, followed by habitat loss and degradation in the 21st century as habitat is lost to mining operations, deforestation and farming. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females between 1 and 1.5 m … It is native to South America but is endangered and is also very rare in captivity. Giant otters currently have an Endangered conservation status Taken in Northern Pantanal, Brazil, May 2017 Special thanks to our guide Paulo Barreiros. The body of giant sea otter can grow and reach the number of 1.7 m with 32 kg of weight. Appearance. Giant Anteater (Vulnerable. Although giant otters have few natural enemies, they became the target of the international pelt trade in the 1940s, and by the early 1970s had been hunted to the brink of extinction. The giant otter is the largest of the otter species and is found in the lakes, rivers, creeks and swamps of South America. Preferring slow-moving tropical rivers, the giant river otter is affected by habitat loss, illegal hunting and gold mining that has caused mercury poisoning. Adults can reach up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 76 lb. The species is now legally protected, but the remaining population is highly fragmented across the range and most subpopulations are small. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an Endangered apex carnivore inhabiting the Madre de Dios region in Peru’s Amazon basin. The giant otter is rated ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. Let’s discuss it in brief. Giant Otter – Pteronura brasiliensis Description. The giant otter is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). The sea otter is a marine mammal which lives on the coasts of the northern Pacific Ocean. The authoritative text on giant otters and their conservation. Males are larger than females. Despite of its giant body, the giant otter has a good … The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. Why is the Hairy Nosed Otter Endangered? Following decades of poaching they are now endangered. Today, illegal hunting is a minor hazard. Fishermen kill otters because they are seen as competitors for fish stock. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. Native to South America, giant river otters are mostly found in the Amazon basin. Following the banning of fur trade, giant otter populations have recovered across South America. It is the longest member of the weasel family, Mustelidae, a globally successful group of predators, reaching up to 1.7 metres (5.6 ft).Atypical of mustelids, the giant otter is a social species, with family groups typically … Current estimates place the population between 1,000 and 5,000, placing it among the endangered otter … The Giant Otter is a very unique species that’s threatened with extinction. The answer is simple its us we inhabit the rivers it lives in we catch the fish it eats we killed them for the fur. So why is the giant otter still endangered? the giant otter is a very social animal they are a very curious and smart animal. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females … The giant otter is classified as Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species considers the giant otter as an Endangered species. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is the largest member of the mustelid family, which includes otters, weasels, and ferrets, and are by far the loudest member of the group.Giant river otters are very sociable and live in families of between 3-10 individuals that hunt together. Decreased by at least 30% in the last 10 years. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. Hairy-nosed otters are regarded as “Endangered” and face many threats to their survival, including habitat destruction, agricultural pollution, construction of hydroelectric dams and increased fish farming, with an associated increase in human/otter conflicts. Across the world, there are thirteen known species of otter. One of the main concerns is pollution from mining activities, which affects not only the otters but their prey and environment, too. It … So why is the giant otter still endangered? The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Giant River Otters. Many people find this particular Otter to be different in size and shape from others. Giant Otter Project. I used to be considered a pest so was trapped and killed by farmers. Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. The International Fur Seal Treaty of 1911, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and the Endangered Species Act of 1977 helped stop the sea otter population from … Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs).. Lavishly illustrated with spectacular, full colour images. 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