The fact that a region has great natural wealth tends to also lead to dangerous situations in that place for the species that make up said biological wealth. Guatemala is one of the countries that suffers the most worldwide from the loss of species richness and the disappearance of emblems of wild fauna, such as the jaguar, puma or quetzal. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is in charge of studying these situations of danger of extinction suffered by wild fauna, establishing a Red List with the following classification: Least concern <near threatened <vulnerable <en endangered <critically endangered <species extinct in the wild <species extinct.
In this Green Ecologist article we will focus on knowing different species of the Guatemalan fauna that are within this Red List, thus getting to know more closely +15 animals in danger of extinction in Guatemala.
Jaguar (Panthera onca)
The largest feline that lives in America, it has been venerated by the Guatemalan culture since pre-Hispanic times. However, it is currently included in the group of endangered animals in Guatemala.
Among the numerous threats jaguars face in Guatemalan territory the following stand out:
- Loss of 37% of the territory of its natural habitat in Guatemala.
- Reduction of its population level, with only slightly more than 300 specimens in Guatemala.
- Decrease in the population of their usual prey (deer and monkeys).
- Poaching and murder by ranchers by attacking domestic animals for food.
In this other Green Ecologist article we will tell you more about why the jaguar is in danger of extinction.
Central American Puma (Puma concolor)
It follows the jaguar in the ranking of the largest cats in America. In Guatemala, the Central American puma or Puma concolor each year suffers the displacement of its natural habitat, due to various threats. These carnivores, which can reach 150 kilograms in weight, suffer the loss of many of their main prey, for which they are forced to move to other areas in search of food.
This situation causes that many pumas lose their lives when entering regions where their food sources become even more scarce or, when encountering poachers that sell them within the international trade of exotic species.
Quetzal, one of the most emblematic endangered animals in Guatemala
The quetzal is in danger of extinction in Guatemala and Mexico and it may really be hard to believe, since it is a sacred bird for the culture of the place and was declared the national bird of Guatemala in 1871.
This threatening situation suffered by the colorful and majestic quetzal bird (Pharomacrus mocinno) is mainly due to the decline that its population suffers year after year, so that it could become extinct if its population size is not maintained in balance. As in many other cases, the main cause of their dangerous situation is the human being, since they are numerous cases of illegal capture and hunting that the quetzal suffers for its later sale as a pet, being unable to survive in captivity.
If you are curious to know more about this bird, do not hesitate to consult this other post in which we talk about why the quetzal is in danger of extinction.
Central American tapir (Tapirus bairdi)
Rather unknown in Eurasia but abundant in America, tapirs have suffered the extinction of many of the genera that are included within the Tapiridiae family to which they belong.
In Guatemala, Central American or northern tapir it is the only species that inhabits its forests. They are herbivorous animals that reach 2 meters in length and 300 kilograms in weight. Currently, the Estimated population in Guatemala is less than 1,000 specimens in the wild, which attributes to the Central American tapir the category of endangered species (EN), according to the IUCN Red List.
The main cause of its endangered status? Once again, indiscriminate hunting and the destruction of their natural habitat. Learn more about their situation here Why the tapir is in danger of extinction.
Black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi)
In the tropical forests of northern Guatemala, as well as in southern Mexico, the black-handed spider monkey find their natural habitat.
It is one of the new world monkeys (a parvorden in which there are five families of primates that are native to Central and South America, as well as tropical regions of Mexico) and is large, reaching 9 kilograms in weight. They are characterized by the absence of thumbs on their hands, which are black in color and by having a robust prehensile tail and arms longer than their legs, thus guaranteeing the balance and flexibility that allow them to move from some tree branches to other
Due to the loss of their natural habitat, black-handed spider monkeys are in danger of extinction. Deforestation prevents them from surviving and they are sometimes poached to be exposed as pets.
Ocellated turkey (Meleagris ocellata)
Also know as mountain turkey, this colorful bird inhabits the forests of the Yucatan peninsula (Mexico), as well as the north of Guatemala.
With terrestrial and diurnal habits, the ocellated turkey lives in small family groups, feeding on insects and earthworms. When night falls, they take refuge in the high branches of the trees to go unnoticed and not be attacked by their main nocturnal predators, the jaguars.
However, there are other predators that ocellated turkeys continually face: humans and their irresponsible actions, such as poaching and destruction of the natural environment.
Other endangered animals in Guatemala
Here we leave a list of most endangered animals in Guatemala, categorized by the main animal types:
Mammals
- Giant anteater (Tmexican amandua).
- Tiger leopard (Leopardus tigrinus).
- Whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianusis).
- Southern flying squirrel (Glaucomys volans).
Guatemalan birds in danger of extinction
- Scarlet macaw (Ara macao).
- Chubby Turkey (Oreophasis derbianus).
- Masked duckNomonyx dominicus).
- Whistling quailDactylortyx thoracicus).
Reptiles
- Tree dragon lizard (genus Abronia).
- Salamander (Bradytriton silus).
- Black iguana (Ctenosaura pectinata).
- Hooded turtle (Kinosternon scorpioides).
Next, we leave a gallery of images of all these animals in the same order as the list.
How to help endangered animals in Guatemala
Without a doubt, the protection and conservation of endangered species in Guatemala It is one of the main tasks to be taken into account by the government and the Guatemalan population. However, tourists visiting the Central American country must also participate in this joint responsibility. For this, it is important to have knowledge about threatened and endangered species, the visit to Parks and Nature Reserves in which the dissemination and awareness of the vulnerability of the affected fauna is promoted.
Each action will be important to reverse the situation of danger in which many species of animals are in Guatemala, from each law that regulates and protects the natural spaces and habitats of the fauna, as well as the penalties that are made to the International Trade of Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and local conservation and dissemination efforts.
In this other article we explain more about why it is important to protect endangered animals and how to help them.
If you want to read more articles similar to +15 animals in danger of extinction in GuatemalaWe recommend that you enter our category of Endangered Animals.
Bibliography- National Council of Protected Areas (2009). Guatemala and its biodiversity. Guatemala, Editorial Serviprensa.
- Martínez, B. (04/20/2016) These are the plants and animals in danger of extinction in Guatemala. Free Press: Guatemala.
- IUCN Drafting Team (05/15/2019) regional project committed to social inclusion as a strategy for the conservation of coastal biodiversity. Guatemala, IUCN News.
