Darwin's fox  (Pseudalopex fulvipes)

Darwin's fox is considered critically endangered, being highly vulnerable to extinction due to its small numbers and very restricted range, having just two known populations (3). The greatest threat to this species' survival on the mainland is probably the presence of unleashed dogs in Nahuelbuta National Park, which may attack the foxes and also have the potential to transmit diseases. Despite dogs being prohibited from the park, they are often allowed in with visitors, and subsequently let loose (1). Many foxes have become habituated to humans through unrestricted feeding by visitors, and spend much of their time under vehicles in the car park where they are at risk of being killed by visitors' cars (2). The larger island population appears relatively safer, with Chiloé National Park encompassing most of the still untouched rainforest of the island and containing a sizeable fox population. However, surrounding areas also containing foxes are suffering from ongoing logging, forest fragmentation and poaching by locals (1). Some foxes have been persecuted by farmers on the island for killing their poultry, and attacks from dogs also pose a threat here (2).

Darwin's fox has been protected by Chilean law since 1929, but enforcement can be difficult, and some poaching unfortunately continues (1). Research and monitoring of this species is ongoing, being undertaken by initiatives such as Darwin's Fox Research and Conservation Project, which also seeks to raise awareness amongst schools, dog owners, farmers and loggers of the plight of the fox and the dangers that imperil it (4). The 430 square kilometre Chiloé National Park protects much of the island population, and the smaller 68 square kilometre Nahuelbuta National Park protects the mainland population. However, a number of foxes at Nahuelbuta are known to move to lower unprotected areas during the winter in search of milder conditions, where they become more vulnerable to mortality. It has therefore been recommended that the park be expanded to protect the foxes that use these areas (1). However, it is also essential that Park wardens become stricter about enforcing Park rules. Dogs brought in by visitors pose a serious threat, whilst continuous feeding of the foxes has habituated them to humans, and thereby made them ever more vulnerable to the dangers people bring. Indeed, it has been suggested that if current relaxed attitudes continue in Nahuelbuta National Park, Chiloé National Park may become the only long-term safe area for this rare, endemic fox (2).