100 Years Of Chinchillas History In The United States

Chinchillas seem to have the time of their lives on social media. They’re often seen eating on treats, rolling in dust to dramatic music, and happily bouncing around in specially designed playrooms. But what many don’t realize is the long history of exploitation these cute creatures have faced. It’s a miracle they’ve survived at all.

Chinchillas are small rodents from the Andes mountains. They are plant-eaters and active at night. Chinchillas can live for about 20 years. Their fur is very soft because they have many hairs growing from each follicle. People have bred them for 75 years to have different fur colors.

I have two chinchillas named Bunny and Furry. I’ve had them for six years. For the last three years, I’ve been studying everything I can about where chinchillas come from and how to protect them.

Chinchilla Challenges: Balancing Pet Care and Wild Conservation

Many pet chinchillas live in big cages with caring owners, but chinchilla rescues in the US have been full for years. People buy these fluffy creatures without knowing much about them. But soon, the excitement fades: chinchillas might have allergies, owners face big life changes, or unexpected costs come up. Also, wild chinchillas have been almost gone for a long time. Both pet and wild chinchillas need help because humans are causing problems for them.

Warning of Extinction: Colin Campbell Sanborn’s Concerns for Chinchillas

In 1926, Colin Campbell Sanborn from the Field Museum of Natural History warned that chinchillas were in danger of disappearing forever. He believed that laws couldn’t protect them, and attempts to breed them in captivity weren’t successful enough to replenish their numbers in the Andes. Sanborn lamented the potential loss of these adorable and harmless creatures, emphasizing their importance to humanity. Despite being heavily exploited, chinchillas have managed to survive, highlighting the significance of their preservation for future generations.

Chinchilla Conservation Efforts: A Story of Rediscovery and Ongoing Challenges

In the mid-1900s, chinchillas were believed to be gone forever. But in 1975, a woman named Connie Mohlis and a former chinchilla hunter discovered endangered long-tailed chinchillas. Later, in 1998, critically endangered short-tailed chinchillas were also found.

To protect them and their habitat, Las Chinchillas National Reserve was created in Aucó, Chile, in 1983. Despite these efforts, chinchilla populations are still declining due to mining, habitat damage, and genetic issues.

Efforts to save them over the last 50 years haven’t made a big difference. More colonies of both species have been found, but their numbers keep dropping.

In 1923, Mathias F. Chapman, a mining engineer, brought 12 wild long-tailed chinchillas to Inglewood, California. This marked the beginning of the chinchilla fur farm industry in the United States. These chinchillas, originally from the wild, are now the ancestors of most domestic chinchillas worldwide, including Bunny and Furry.

Supporting Chinchilla Welfare: Actions to Take

Around a century ago, people took the remaining wild chinchillas from their homes for the fur trade, endangering their survival. The fur industry began farming chinchillas in the 1950s, but it became too expensive by the 1990s. Luckily, since the 1970s, rescuers have saved many chinchillas from fur farms and introduced them as pets.

Despite these efforts, many chinchillas still suffer in poor conditions worldwide. To help them, we should educate chinchilla owners and fans, push for laws protecting animals, support rescues like Northwest Indiana Chinchillas, Forever Feisty, and NOLA Chinchilla Rescue, and donate to conservation groups like Save The Wild Chinchillas.