| Animals are considered endangered when they are at | | | | production, may result in unknowable consequences |
| risk of extinction, either because there are only a small | | | | for the entire planet. The Amazon has been called the |
| number of them left, due to threats from changes to | | | | lungs of the planet, and its further destruction could |
| their environment, shifting of predator to prey ratios, | | | | accelerate global warming, with devastating |
| and other factors. Nations over the last 50 years have | | | | consequences for humans and most of the species |
| developed laws to protect species form becoming | | | | on Earth. |
| extinct; however few species actually get on these | | | | Some endangered species of Peru are: |
| lists. Many become extinct without the attention or | | | | The Andean Cat, (Oreailurus jacobita) considered |
| protection of humans, though it is true that in probably | | | | among the five most endangered cats in the world, is |
| all cases over the last century, the machinations of | | | | considered critically endangered. It is found in the high |
| humans have caused the imbalances that have led to | | | | regions of Peru, Argentina, Chile and Bolivia, and is one |
| the disappearance of thousands of animal and plant | | | | of the shyest and least known cats in existence. |
| species. | | | | About the size of a housecat, Andean Cats feed on |
| Especially within the last century and a half, species | | | | several classes of mice, small birds and rodents. Along |
| have been becoming extinct at a higher rate than at | | | | with the Pampas cat, (Oncifelis colocolo), it is known as |
| any time in history. In the case of the Amazon | | | | "osqhollo" by the Quechua. Factors contributing to its |
| Rainforest, which covers parts of Peru, Ecuador, | | | | declining numbers may include reduction of prey, |
| Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia and Brazil, the loss of | | | | harvesting of plants that their prey is dependent on, |
| habitat created by farmers who cut down trees and | | | | and hunting by humans. |
| burn whole tracts of jungle for cattle grazing and crop | | | | |