13 Endangered Animals in Chile

Chile is a country of incredible biodiversity thanks to its wide range of climates and ecosystems—from the Atacama Desert in the north to the temperate forests and fjords of Patagonia in the south. However, habitat degradation, hunting, and increasing pollution have placed many native species at risk. Today, it is estimated that around 120 Chilean animals are threatened with extinction.

Here, we highlight 13 endangered animals in Chile and share how we can help protect them.

1. Arica Hummingbird (Eulidia yarrellii)

• Size: Just 8 cm long, the smallest bird in Chile and one of the smallest in the world.

• Appearance: Males have purple throats on the sides and black on the front.

• Population: Fewer than 300 individuals, found mainly around Arica and Antofagasta.

• Threats: Habitat loss from pesticide use in agricultural areas.

2. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta)

• Size: Carapace length about 90 cm, weight ~135 kg.

• Appearance: Reddish-brown shell with five pairs of shields.

• Habitat: Subtropical and temperate waters of northern and central Chile.

• Conservation status: Critically Endangered, threatened by bycatch and pollution.

3. Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)

• Size: 40–50 kg in weight, 75–85 cm tall.

• Appearance: Beige to reddish-brown coat on the back, white on the underside.

• Range: High-altitude areas in Arica and Atacama regions.

• Threats: Illegal hunting for their prized fiber, used in luxury textiles.

4. Huemul Deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus)

• Also called: Patagonian huemul.

• Size: Body length up to 165 cm.

• Appearance: Sturdy body, short legs, dense fur that changes from beige to dark brown with the seasons.

• Range: Scattered populations in Los Lagos, Aysén, Magallanes, and Biobío.

• Threats: Habitat destruction, dog attacks, parasites.

5. Andean Cat (Leopardus jacobitus)

• Status: One of the rarest wild cats on Earth.

• Size: Body length 60–80 cm, tail makes up two-thirds of total length.

• Habitat: Found at 3,000–4,000 meters in the Andes.

• Threats: Illegal hunting and habitat loss.

6. Short-tailed Chinchilla (Chinchilla chinchilla)

• Size: 22–25 cm long, with a very long tail.

• Range: Andean highlands and Nevado Tres Cruces National Park.

• Threats: Hunted extensively for their valuable fur; mining and road construction further threaten habitats.

• Status: Population has declined by 90% in three generations.

7. Burrowing Parrot (Cyanoliseus patagonus bloxami)

• Size: 37–43 cm long, Chile’s largest parrot.

• Appearance: Olive-green head and back, white eye-ring, grayish-brown chest with a whitish band.

• Range: Maule and O’Higgins regions.

• Threats: Captured for the pet trade and targeted by wildlife traffickers.

8. Marine Otter (Lontra felina)

• Size: 70–80 cm long plus a 50 cm tail, weighing about 5 kg.

• Range: From Valparaíso down to Tierra del Fuego.

• Note: The smallest otter species in the genus Lontra and the only one that lives in the sea.

• Threats: Entanglement in fishing nets and hunting for fur.

9. Chilean Frog (Calyptocephalella gayi)

• Size: The largest amphibian in Chile, averaging 20 cm in length (some up to 75 cm).

• Range: Endemic to central Chile.

• Threats: Harvested as food; also faces competition from invasive species.

10. Volcanic Lizard (Pristidactylus volcanensis)

• Size: Robust lizard measuring 85–95 mm from head to cloaca (not including tail).

• Range: Río Maipo and Río Clarillo National Park.

• Threats: Habitat destruction due to tourism, mining, and hunting.

11. Culpeo Fox (Lycalopex culpaeus)

• Size: The second-largest canid in South America, weighing up to 9 kg.

• Appearance: Reddish legs and head, gray back with black stripes, white underbelly.

• Threats: Historically hunted by ranchers because they preyed on sheep.

• Status: Listed as “Least Concern” by IUCN, but still threatened regionally.

12. Darwin’s Fox (Lycalopex fulvipes)

• Status: One of the most endangered canids in the world.

• Size: Small, weighing 1.8–4 kg, standing only 25 cm tall, and measuring 50–70 cm in length.

• Population: Estimated at 650–2,500 individuals.

• Threats: Habitat loss, attacks by domestic dogs, persecution by farmers, and even illegal capture by tourists.

13. Andean Deer (Hippocamelus antisensis)

• Also known as: Taruca or northern huemul.

• Appearance: Slimmer and smaller than the southern huemul.

• Weight: 45–60 kg.

• Distinctive trait: Black facial markings, often in a V or Y shape in males.

• Population: Estimated 12,000–17,000 worldwide, but much lower in Chile.

• Threats: Overhunting, competition with livestock, habitat changes.

How to Help Protect Endangered Animals in Chile

Protecting Chile’s biodiversity requires action from both individuals and governments:

1. Legislation: Enforce laws that restrict hunting, wildlife trafficking, and illegal exploitation.

2. Protected areas: Expand and safeguard national parks and reserves.

3. Public responsibility: Reduce pollution, avoid buying wild animals or their products.

4. Education: Spread awareness about endangered species and conservation.

Conclusion

From the tiny Arica hummingbird to the majestic loggerhead turtle, and from the elusive Andean cat to the rare Darwin’s fox, Chile’s wildlife represents a treasure trove of biodiversity. Yet many of these animals are in peril.

Protecting them is not just about saving individual species—it’s about safeguarding entire ecosystems and ensuring that future generations inherit a land as rich and diverse as the one we know today.

References

Barrio, J., Nuñez, A., Pacheco, L., Regidor, H.A. & Fuentes-Allende, N. (2017). Hippocamelus antisensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2017. Available at: e.T10053A22158621. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T10053A22158621.en

animal tags： chile animals