Andean hairy armadillo  (Chaetophractus nationi)

The hard outer covering of the Andean hairy armadillo is good protection from predators, but humans can easily catch and kill them (2). They are extensively hunted and traded, both for food, for their shell, which is used to make musical instruments that are often sold to tourists, and for other body parts, which are used to make amulets and traditional medicines (1) (8). In addition, this species is also persecuted for its disruptive burrowing on agricultural land (1). Habitat loss from deforestation, sand extraction for road construction, and agricultural development are also ongoing and increasing threats (4) (8).

International trade of the Andean hairy armadillo is prohibited by its listing on Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), which specifies an annual trade quota of zero (3) (8). It is hoped that this measure will reduce trade in this species and therefore the extent to which it is hunted, although enforcement on trade in souvenirs is often inadequate (8). Furthermore, despite additional protection by national laws prohibiting the capture and trade of the Andean hairy armadillo in Bolivia, demand for armadillo products continues. Fortunately the non-governmental organization Tamandua along with the Bolivian Ministry of Sustainable Development and Planning are working to develop a national conservation programme for the Andean hairy armadillo. Their efforts should help to ensure a future for this charismatic species (8).