The giant river otter competes with … Giant river otters: One of the Amazon forest's top predators 04 November 2016 (5692 visits). Across the world, there are thirteen known species of otter. An average giant otter will weigh between 22 and 32kg (49-71lbs).. To make matters worse, it has gone extinct in some areas, so populations are no longer connected.) Why is the giant otter endangered? The species is now legally protected, but the remaining population is highly fragmented across the range and most subpopulations are small. Although sea otters have the ability to walk on land, they are capable of living exclusively in the … Adults can reach up to 6 feet in length and can weigh up to 76 lb. Preferring slow-moving tropical rivers, the giant river otter is affected by habitat loss, illegal hunting and gold mining that has caused mercury poisoning. The authoritative text on giant otters and their conservation. Sea otters once numbered in the hundreds of thousands, but fur traders hunted them in large numbers and, consequently, reduced their population size. It has the greatest body length of any species in the mustelid family, although the sea otter may be heavier. Giant Otter – Pteronura brasiliensis Description. Their primary form of insulation is their thick coat of fur, which is the densest fur known in the animal kingdom. Ka’apor Capuchin Monkey (Critically endangered… There are multiple factors, including habitat degradation.) Distribution. Today, illegal hunting is a minor hazard. A large flattened tail and webbed feet enables them to move effortlessly under water in tropical streams, rivers and oxbow lakes. Why is the Hairy Nosed Otter Endangered? So why is the giant otter still endangered? The giant otter is rated ‘Endangered’ by the IUCN. Current estimates place the population between 1,000 and 5,000, placing it among the endangered otter … The Giant Otter features a very long body, similar to that of a weasel. 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. Meanwhile, About its diet, Giant otter only feeds on snakes, fish, turtle, crabs, and small caiman. 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. However, there are several emerging threats to this sensitive species. Giant Otter Project. These animals are most active from 10-11 am and from 3-5 pm. Name: Giant otter Status: Endangered Range: South America Why am I threatened? Males are larger than females. Despite of its giant body, the giant otter has a good … Giant Otter (Has lost as much as 80% of its range. Why Giant Otters are currently endangered Currently, Giant Otters are still classed as endangered because they face new threats in the 21 st century. The giant otter is the largest of the world's otters. The giant otter, an endangered apex predator in Amazon river ecosystems, was nearly driven to extinction because of demand for its fur. Giant otter … They are also threatened by chemical pollution in the water. Giant otters are the largest of any otter in the world growing up to 1.8m. Today, illegal hunting is a minor hazard. 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. Get to know one of South America’s most captivating and endangered mammals. The Giant Otter is a very unique species that’s threatened with extinction. 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. 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 a very social animal they are a very curious and smart animal. 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. Following decades of poaching they are now endangered. Excessive hunting for its pelts until the late 1970s caused the numbers to plummet. For that reason they are often mistaken for another type of animal. 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). It is native to South America but is endangered and is also very rare in captivity. Many of us may think that why protecting endangered species is important. The Giant otter was discovered by Gmelin in 1788. 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. More recently, a deadly disease has become my biggest threat. Following the banning of fur trade, giant otter populations have recovered across South America. Their long tail may add as much as 70cm (28in) to this body length. The sea otter is a marine mammal which lives on the coasts of the northern Pacific Ocean. It … The giant otter or giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a South American carnivorous mammal. Despite a recent recovery in some areas following banning of the fur trade, the species now faces several emerging threats that remain poorly understood. Giant otters currently have an Endangered conservation status Taken in Northern Pantanal, Brazil, May 2017 Special thanks to our guide Paulo Barreiros. 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 … 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 … Giant otters produce 9 different vocalizations and are very loud. Females are smaller at 1-1.5m (3.3-4.9ft). Let’s discuss it in brief. So why is the giant otter still endangered? Why are sea otters endangered. Males are between 1.5 and 1.7 m (4.9 and 5.6 ft) in length from head to tail and females … Native to South America, giant river otters are mostly found in the Amazon basin. The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioral characteristics. I used to be hunted for my fur, but … That giant otters are protected and their populations stable throughout their range in South America by 2025. I used to be considered a pest so was trapped and killed by farmers. The giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is a beautiful animal adapted for an amphibious lifestyle. The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is an Endangered apex carnivore inhabiting the Madre de Dios region in Peru’s Amazon basin. 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 … Importance of protecting endangered … Well, there are many benefits to saving these endangered species. The giant otter usually easier to be found along the Amazon River and Pantanal. The Bornean orangutan is a critically endangered primate endemic to Borneo. 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 … 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 … As the name suggests, the giant otter is the world's largest otter species and is well-known from wildlife documentaries. The body of giant sea otter can grow and reach the number of 1.7 m with 32 kg of weight. Decreased by at least 30% in the last 10 years. Fishermen kill otters because they are seen as competitors for fish stock. The giant otter is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Lavishly illustrated with spectacular, full colour images. It is large with a flat, black face and long orange fur. One of the main concerns is pollution from mining activities, which affects not only the otters but their prey and environment, too. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species considers the giant otter as an Endangered species. 501c3 nonprofit conservation organization with a focal species, the critically endangered giant otter. The giant otter's fur is dense, thick and velvety and brown in color. Appearance. They take a nap at mid-day during really warm weather. Many people find this particular Otter to be different in size and shape from others. Giant River Otters. The giant otter is clearly distinguished from other otters by morphological and behavioral characteristics. Conservation Status. 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. It is also known as the Guiana flat-tailed otter, margin-tailed otter and winged-tailed otter. Find out more about this beautiful mammal. 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