Species Profile Common name Spectacled Bear Where they live South America – in the Andes mountain range from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Habitat They are the only known bear species native to South America and prefer dense forests but are also very adaptable and can survive in a range of conditions from high altitude grasslands and cloud forest to desert scrubs. Size Head-body length 1.3 to 2 metres Shoulder height 70 to 90 cm Weight Males 100 – 175kg Females 60 – 80 kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Vulnerable Threats Habitat destruction due to agricultural, urban and industrial development. Hunting by farmers who blame them for killing stock. They are also hunted for meat, skin and claws, and for their gall bladders which are used in oriental medicine and can fetch high prices on the black market Species Profile Common name Spectacled Bear Where they live South America – in the Andes mountain range from Venezuela to northern Argentina. Habitat They are the only known bear species native to South America and prefer dense forests but are also very adaptable and can survive in a range of conditions from high altitude grasslands and cloud forest to desert scrubs. Size Head-body length 1.3 to 2 metres Shoulder height 70 to 90 cm Weight Males 100 – 175kg Females 60 – 80 kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Vulnerable Threats Habitat destruction due to agricultural, urban and industrial development. Hunting by farmers who blame them for killing stock. They are also hunted for meat, skin and claws, and for their gall bladders which are used in oriental medicine and can fetch high prices on the black market

Species Profile Common name Vicuna Animal group/type Mammal - camel Where they live South America Habitat Grasslands and plains in alpine regions of the Andes mountains Size Length: Up to 1.6m Shoulder Height: Up to 85cm Weight 35-65kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Conservation Dependant Threats Poaching for their fine fur which produces the warmest wool of any animal. In 1974 they were listed as endangered due to the high level of poaching for their expensive fur. Now officially protected by South American governments, their numbers have recovered enough for their conservation status to be downgraded. Habitat loss due to development. Species Profile Common name Vicuna Animal group/type Mammal - camel Where they live South America Habitat Grasslands and plains in alpine regions of the Andes mountains Size Length: Up to 1.6m Shoulder Height: Up to 85cm Weight 35-65kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Conservation Dependant Threats Poaching for their fine fur which produces the warmest wool of any animal. In 1974 they were listed as endangered due to the high level of poaching for their expensive fur. Now officially protected by South American governments, their numbers have recovered enough for their conservation status to be downgraded. Habitat loss due to development.

Species Profile Common name Jaguar Animal group/type Mammal - carnivore Where they live Central and South America – from Mexico to Argentina. Habitat Lush rainforest, swamplands, scrubland, savannas. The most dense populations are found near the Amazon Basin. They always live within easy access of water. Size Head to body length: up to 241cm Shoulder height: up to 75cm Weight Males: up to 158 kg Females: up to 85kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Near Threatened Threats Hunting for their pelts for the fur trade and by farmers in retaliation for attacks on livestock. Habitat loss and deforestation due to agricultural and urban development. Such developments also have an impact on jaguar food sources, reducing the amount of prey available in the wild. Species Profile Common name Jaguar Animal group/type Mammal - carnivore Where they live Central and South America – from Mexico to Argentina. Habitat Lush rainforest, swamplands, scrubland, savannas. The most dense populations are found near the Amazon Basin. They always live within easy access of water. Size Head to body length: up to 241cm Shoulder height: up to 75cm Weight Males: up to 158 kg Females: up to 85kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Near Threatened Threats Hunting for their pelts for the fur trade and by farmers in retaliation for attacks on livestock. Habitat loss and deforestation due to agricultural and urban development. Such developments also have an impact on jaguar food sources, reducing the amount of prey available in the wild.

Species Profile Common name Coati Animal group/type Mammal - carnivore Where they live South America and in some southerly parts of North America Habitat Tropical rainforests, grasslands, scrub and bush-land, also Andean mountain slopes. Size Body length: 41-60cm Tail length: 30-60cm Shoulder height: 30cm Weight 3-8kg Conservation status Coatis are officially protected in some countries, including Uruguay, though they are not on the IUCN Red List and not officially listed as threatened. Threats Deforestation due to mining, road building and logging activities. Hunting. Species Profile Common name Coati Animal group/type Mammal - carnivore Where they live South America and in some southerly parts of North America Habitat Tropical rainforests, grasslands, scrub and bush-land, also Andean mountain slopes. Size Body length: 41-60cm Tail length: 30-60cm Shoulder height: 30cm Weight 3-8kg Conservation status Coatis are officially protected in some countries, including Uruguay, though they are not on the IUCN Red List and not officially listed as threatened. Threats Deforestation due to mining, road building and logging activities. Hunting.

Species Profile Common name Colombian Black Spider Monkey Animal group/type Mammal - primate Where they live Colombia, Central America Habitat Rainforests, mangrove swamps Size Males: 39-61cm Females: 31-45cm Weight Males: 7.4-9kg Females: 6-8kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Vulnerable Threats Hunting for food and for the illegal pet trade. Habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development. Species Profile Common name Colombian Black Spider Monkey Animal group/type Mammal - primate Where they live Colombia, Central America Habitat Rainforests, mangrove swamps Size Males: 39-61cm Females: 31-45cm Weight Males: 7.4-9kg Females: 6-8kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Vulnerable Threats Hunting for food and for the illegal pet trade. Habitat loss due to agricultural and urban development.

Species Profile Common name Capybara Animal group/type Mammal - rodent Where they live Central and South America Habitat Rainforests, swamps and marshes Size Height: 45cm Length: 121cm Weight Males: 35-64kg Females: 37-66kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Not on the IUCN List Threats Habitat loss due to rainforest destruction for development. Logging and forest burning is destroying hundred of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat every day. Natural predators such as big cats and birds of prey There was a dramatic drop in the numbers of capybaras in the wild due to widespread hunting in the 1980s. Species Profile Common name Capybara Animal group/type Mammal - rodent Where they live Central and South America Habitat Rainforests, swamps and marshes Size Height: 45cm Length: 121cm Weight Males: 35-64kg Females: 37-66kg Conservation status (IUCN Red List) Not on the IUCN List Threats Habitat loss due to rainforest destruction for development. Logging and forest burning is destroying hundred of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat every day. Natural predators such as big cats and birds of prey There was a dramatic drop in the numbers of capybaras in the wild due to widespread hunting in the 1980s.

Species Profile Tapir Habitat Forest Origin South America Type Herbivore Conservation Status Vulnerable Their habitat is forests close to rivers and lakes. Solitary and almost totally nocturnal, they spend their days amid dense vegetation, either asleep or at rest. After a thirteen month pregnancy, the female seeks a secure lair in which to give birth. The single calf weighs about kg at birth and is almost immediately able to follow its mother. There are three other species of tapirs. Mountain and Baird's Tapirs are also found in South America; the Malayan Tapir lives in southern Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. South American Tapirs feed on lush vegetation, using their flexible snout to pull leaves and shoots towards the mouth. The young tapir has a dark-brown coat with a pattern of yellow and white stripes and spots, helping to camouflage it. These juvenile markings begin to fade at 2 months and have completely disappeared by 6 months old. The calf remains with its mother until it is months old. Jaguars and caiman prey upon both adult and young South American Tapirs. Life expectancy is up to twenty years. Species Profile Tapir Habitat Forest Origin South America Type Herbivore Conservation Status Vulnerable Their habitat is forests close to rivers and lakes. Solitary and almost totally nocturnal, they spend their days amid dense vegetation, either asleep or at rest. After a thirteen month pregnancy, the female seeks a secure lair in which to give birth. The single calf weighs about kg at birth and is almost immediately able to follow its mother. There are three other species of tapirs. Mountain and Baird's Tapirs are also found in South America; the Malayan Tapir lives in southern Burma, Thailand, the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra. South American Tapirs feed on lush vegetation, using their flexible snout to pull leaves and shoots towards the mouth. The young tapir has a dark-brown coat with a pattern of yellow and white stripes and spots, helping to camouflage it. These juvenile markings begin to fade at 2 months and have completely disappeared by 6 months old. The calf remains with its mother until it is months old. Jaguars and caiman prey upon both adult and young South American Tapirs. Life expectancy is up to twenty years.