Love. Not Loss
Southern Chile
Extinct
Dusicyon Avus
Dusicyon avus
(no given common name)
Dusicyon avus lived in the Pampean and Patagonian regions of Argentina, southern Chile, Uruguay and southern Brazil.
These animals were buried in a way that is comparable to the way humans were buried, implying that they were kept as pets. Also, these animals hunted small mammals and kept their populations in check, effecting the entire ecosystem with their diet.
The teeth of Dusicyon avus were used in a religions context in some aboriginal sites of Buenos Aires province.
The demise of the species has been linked to habitat changes, hybridization with dogs and persecution. The abundant fossils of Dusicyon avus show a clear archaeological and temporal overlap with modern humans. According to new radiocarbon evidence, the species would have become extinct after the arrival of Europeans.
These animals had a religious significance to the aboriginal people of Buenos Aires, and this usually means that they served some sort of medical purpose in those days. With the loss of this species, we will never know if they held a solution to a modern day disease. Furthermore, these animals probably hunted small rodents and mammals and kept those populations in check. In addition, the loss of any species is tragic because of the loss of diversity in the world.
Critically Endangered
Pseudalopex fulvipes
- Scientific: Pseudalopex fulvipes
- Common: Darwin’s Fox
- Darwin’s Fox is native to Chile. It is located in the Los Lagos region of the country as well as the Chiloé Island. In the the Los Lagos region it is mainly in Nahuelbuta National Park. Darwin's Foxes are restricted to the park and the native forest surrounding the park. In the Chiloé Island it is mainly found in the forest areas.
- One of the main diets of the Fox is seeds. The foxes play an integral role in the spreading of these seeds to various locations. Darwin’s Foxes are omnivores so they help control the population of both plants and animals thus keeping their ecosystem in balance.
- While Darwin’s Foxes hold no economic value, they are native animals to Chile and have a lot of aesthetic value. They are a unique species completely different from other foxes. Their aesthetic appeal makes them a popular animal for tourist to see. Additionally, this animals helped Charles Darwin in his research on evolution so they also hold a historic importance.
- The greatest threat is the destroying of the forests in Chile, which are the habitats for the foxes. A second threat to these animals are feral dogs. When people visit Nahuelbuta National Park, they are allowed to bring their dogs with them. This has resulted in the dogs attacking the foxes directly and also the transfer of diseases. The last great threat is poaching by humans and the capturing of Darwin’s Foxes to have them as pets.
- Darwin’s Foxes are very unique and have a significant impact on the locals of the Los Lagos region. It is a native animal to the region and has a great amount of aesthetic importance. They are an attraction for tourists thus helping the entire region. Little is know about the species so the decline in its population will only deter scientists from being able to learn more about this unique species.
Rate of Loss
- Unknown, but current population is 250 and decreasing
Returning
Megaptera novaeangliae
- Common: Humpback Whale
- Scientific: Megaptera novaeangliae
Antarctic, eastern central, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest and western central Atlantic Ocean; the Antarctic, eastern and western Indian Ocean; the Antarctic, eastern central, northeast, northwest, southeast, southwest, and western central Pacific Ocean; and the Arctic, Mediterranean and Black Seas.
- Humpback whales are a main contributor to the control of smaller animal populations within the marine ecosystem and they play a large role in keeping the aquatic ecosystem healthy.
- Being one of the larger marine animals, humpback whales play a large part in maintaining the stability and flow of the food chain. They help to ensure that smaller animal species do not overpopulate the ocean. Whale watching has also developed into a profitable industry that encourages human awareness for the animal without resulting in unnecessary harm. Whales also have a positive effect on the environment as their waste functions to offset the high levels of carbon in the atmosphere, thereby making the Earth a more habitable environment for both marine and terrestrial animals.
- The main reason for the humpback whales near extinction in the early 1960s was the whaling industry. These animals provide economic gain by means of their oil and in some countries the meat is valued as well. In addition, they often get entangled in fishing nets and are involved in ship collisions. However, severe whaling restrictions were put in place during the 1960s that have allowed this animal to recover from its significant losses.
- The extinction of the humpback whale would have devastating effects both environmentally and economically. Humpback whales play a large role in maintaining the stability as well as improving the quality of the environment. In addition, a billion dollar industry has been constructed around spectator activities, such as whale watching, so the disappearance of this species would be harmful to multiple industries.
Pre Whaling: 100,000
1965: fewer than 3000
1990: 12,000
1992: 20,000
Works Cited
Animal, Info. "Animal Info - Humpback Whale." Animal Info - Humpback Whale. Scott Jones Education Websites, 1 Feb. 2005. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. http://www.animalinfo.org/species/cetacean/meganova.htm
Jiménez, J.E., Lucherini, M. & Novaro, A.J. 2008. Pseudalopex fulvipes. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T41586A10484712. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T41586A10484712.en. Downloaded on 15 December 2015.
Sillero-Zubiri, C. "Support the Dusicyon Avus." Dusicyon Avus. IUCNRedList. Web. 14 Dec. 2015. <http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/82337482/0>.