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 hunted and traded for food and their shell, and are also persecuted for their disruptive burrowing on agricultural land (1). Habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural development is also an increasing threat (4).

International trade of the Andean hairy armadillo is forbidden by its listing on Appendix II of the Convention of International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES) (3). It is hoped that this measure will reduce its trade and therefore the extent to which it is hunted. There are no conservation measures in place to protect this fascinating animal in its natural habitat, however, and habitat loss is expected to continue as Peru and Bolivia become more populated and developed (4).