Peter RigerChair

AZA Rodent Taxon Advisory Group

Peter RigerChair

AZA Rodent Taxon Advisory Group

Amy DeanePresident

Save the Wild Chinchillas Inc.

www.wildchinchillas.org

amy_deane@yahoo.com

Amy DeanePresident

Save the Wild Chinchillas Inc.

www.wildchinchillas.org

amy_deane@yahoo.com

Saving the Wild Chinchillas

Ecosystem Restoration North-Central Chile

Saving the Wild Chinchillas

Ecosystem Restoration North-Central Chile

Overall ObjectivesOverall Objectives Main goal - to ensure that endangered

long-tailed chinchillas (C. lanigera) do not become extinct.

Ecosystem restoration - propagating native vegetation, some of which are threatened, around existing chinchilla colonies.

To benefit other dependent fauna, which are endemic.

To help curb grazing and other habitat degrading activities.

Overall ObjectivesOverall Objectives

To actively involve the local people in restoration efforts.

To promote environmental awareness amongst the local public, especially children.

Working towards establishing a field school that ensures sustained protection of this ecosystem.

Ecosystem Restoration & Alternative Agricultural Resources in North-

Central Chile

Ecosystem Restoration & Alternative Agricultural Resources in North-

Central Chile

Project GoalsProject Goals Recreate essential habitat

for endangered chinchillas Recreate other natural

vegetative communities (e.g. creek vegetation that enhances a cooler environment for chinchillas upslope, aids in combating global warming on a chinchilla scale)

Facilitate exclusive livestock grazing areas

Project GoalsProject Goals Habitat being defined by vegetal studies

in existing chinchilla colonies (30 years of studies)

Focus on species that we know chinchillas consume within these colonies (30 years of knowledge)

Emergency care until we can determine the nature of chinchilla habitat before severe human induced landscape changes

Wild ChinchillasWild Chinchillas Once believed extinct, the only known

wild Chinchilla lanigera exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995).

This endemic species experienced dramatic decrease in its population and range

An estimated 21 million were killed in less than 60 years for the fur trade and the population has yet to recover (Albert, 1901; Jiménez, 1996).

Chinchillas are endangered and protected by CITES (Glade, 1988; IUCN, 1972).

Wild ChinchillasWild Chinchillas Population estimates vary from 3000 to

approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis, personal communication, 1999).

Over 17 years (1983-1990), a dramatic decrease in the spatial coverage of colonies occurred (Mohlis 1983 and Jiménez 1995).

Previous researchers identified the distribution and characterized typical habitat for chinchillas (Mohlis 1983, Jiménez 1990, 1995, Deane non-published data).

Chinchilla brevicaudata Chinchilla brevicaudata Critically Endangered Shorter ears and tail than C. lanigera

Chinchilla lanigera colony, R.N. Las Chinchillas, Aucó, IV Región Chinchilla lanigera colony, R.N.

Las Chinchillas, Aucó, IV Región

ProblemsProblems

Uncontrolled chinchilla hunting until believed extinct

Estimated 21 million animals killed in 60 years

Population not able to recover due to natural history traits

Reproduction of Chinchillas long gestation (110 days), small litters (1 or 2), sexual maturity (8 months)

DesertificationDesertification

Fuel wood use, ore processing, and agriculture in the past

Current mining and agricultural practices

All areas have been severely affected by resource exploitation.

Many hill slopes have little vegetation and hardly any native tree species can be seen.

Agriculture as a Human Land Use

Agriculture as a Human Land Use

Abandoned farms and mines Continued firewood collection for heating,

bathing and cooking by the poorest people in Chile (IV Region)

Free ranging livestock: Decrease in livestock (9000 animals in 1983 to 1800 in 2000), and farms, but no one has tried to restore native vegetation

Introduced rabbits and hares consume vegetation essential for the native fauna especially endangered long-tailed chinchillas.

Habitat FragmentationHabitat Fragmentation

Isolating not only chinchilla colonies but has created isolated patches of habitat for all wildlife species

Small populations and limited mobility have a higher probability of extinction

RestorationRestoration Creating habitat by growing native

plant species that serve as food, cover and shelter for chinchillas, also aids in the conservation of other plant and animal species in the community such as Degus (Octodon degus), the Chinchilla rat (Abrocoma bennetti), and Cururos (Spalacopus cyanus) that only occur here in central Chile.

RestorationRestoration Many of the plant species are also of

conservation concerns and by collecting seeds from different locales, we are ensuring genetic diversity.

Las Chinchillas National Reserve

Las Chinchillas National Reserve

Formed in 1983 – covers 4,229 ha 15 species of predominant mammals and 35

species of avifauna including: Chinchilla Chinchilla lanigera Pampas Cat Felis colocola

(endangered) Leaf eared Mouse Phylottis darwinii Little Grison Galictis cuja Coruro – Spalacopus cyanus Tinamou – Northoprocta perdicaria Giant Hummingbird – Patagona gigas Andean condor – Vultur gryphus

Las Chinchillas National ReserveLas Chinchillas National Reserve

Darwins Leaf-eared Mouse Phylottis darwini

Cururo Spalacopus cyanus

Las Chinchillas National ReserveLas Chinchillas National Reserve

Pampas Cat Felis

colocolo

Andean Condor

Vultur gryphus

North American Zoo Population (ISIS)

North American Zoo Population (ISIS)

Chinchilla brevicaudata 12.12.2 in 12 institutions

Chinchilla lanigera 118.109.28 in 95 institutions

Equal to 300 individuals with a large percentage maintained in education programs

Domestic pet trade: possibly tens of thousands in private hands

Plants, Seedling and Seed Sources

Plants, Seedling and Seed Sources

Our Nursery The Local Community (friends, farmers

& workers) Road cut collecting

Road cut collectingRoad cut collecting Along the dirt roads many species of

concern to us, germinate and grow only to be cut down when the dirt roads undergo repairs

We collect these seedlings and use for restoration

BONUS - very cheap financially and ecologically– we don’t have to collect seeds and

grow the plants from germination– we don’t waste time, space, soil, or

water resources on seeds that wouldn’t have germinated

Our NurseryOur Nursery Seed collection from different drainage

basins Creating and maintaining seed beds Seedlings transplanted into plastic bags

or modified bottles that promote high root to shoot ratios & deep root development (bottles donated from Coca-Cola in Illapel, Chile - surplus non-returnable bottles, disposed bottles)

Can be used in nursery for the same seedling for a few years

Our NurseryOur Nursery

Decrease heat in the nursery because the bottles are transparent

Commercially available black plastic seedling bags add heat and deteriorate in two years

Our NurseryOur Nursery Water source is a perennial contour

canal that runs along the nursery The bottles are placed into square

depressions into the soil - irrigate by filling the square hole until the area is full (five feet square and 1 foot deep)

Water is absorbed by the roots bottom of bottle to the top thus ensuring the entire soil area is irrigated

From Nursery to Restoration Site

From Nursery to Restoration Site

In some areas we built fences when funding - helps exclude livestock (goats, sheep cows, horses and donkeys)

Holes dug a little deeper than seedling container size (~ 1.5 feet) - dug with a large crowbar and a tuna-can

A little soil is backfilled, a handful of topsoil is added, with/without natural fertilizer

Water is added before seedling is sown; this is covered with soil before adding more water and moist soil

From Nursery to Restoration Site

From Nursery to Restoration Site

A dirt semicircle that collects rainwater surface flow

Rock mulch is used from nearby– Adds shade to the seedling – Accumulates condensation- natural

irrigation Each seedling has a protective fence

– majority of grazing by exotic (non-native) rabbits and hares

As of 2004, plants are currently being measured and tagged to quantify establishment, growth, and survivorship

Restoration Sites Restoration Sites Habitat creation - establishing a new

area for chinchillas that exist between colonies or suitable habitat

Habitat extension - expanding currently occupied areas in hopes of expanding chinchilla colonies

Corridors - areas connecting existing chinchilla colonies and with abandoned/extinct colonies to promote dispersal and colonization of new areas

Project ProgressProject Progress Began in year 2000 with funding

obtained for a nursery in November Learned the nature of local plant

species - their successful germination and sustenance (problems with Ephedra and Puya spp.)

Learned what species need what kind of protection from predation

Have planted approximately 4000 seedlings- three expansion areas, two new habitat areas, and one corridor

Project ProgressProject Progress Many plants need years to grow

before are suitable for chinchilla habitat ~Vslow growing desert species

However, some plants have gone to seed in the second year. And these do serve as food.

Grass species are usable within the same planting season and chinchillas preferred food.

Project ProgressProject Progress Gained community support and

assistance -donations of tools, time and seedlings from local farmers

Our project takes place on communally owned lands.

We hire within this community for help in this project!

Raised $24000 for this project ($14000 in the last couple of months)

Area near AucóArea near Aucó

Chinchilla feces indicate their presence

Chinchilla feces indicate their presence

The Puya plant under which the chinchillas spend their

daytime

The Puya plant under which the chinchillas spend their

daytime

A Puya bloomA Puya bloom

SupportSupport A t or N turc f a e (Monaco) Conservation Technology Support

Program (CTSP) (United State of America)

Lemmon Foundation (United State of America)

Rufford Small Grants(for Nature Conservation) (RSG) (United Kingdom)

Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Population (ZGAP) (Germany)

Contact InformationContact Information SALVE LAS CHINCHILLAS SILVESTRES 

SAVE THE WILD CHINCHILLAS, INC.

Amy Deane Casilla 302, IllapelIV Region, Chile

www.wildchinchillas.org