The giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) is one of the most critical endangered wild species in Colombia according to the IUCN, CITES and Alexander Von Humboldt National Biological Research Institute, being classified as VU, Appendix I and CR, respectively.
Based on IUCN information there is a high reduction of free populations in the whole distribution range from the northern Argentina to the Guyana, being described two subspecies in the whole range, one supposedly extinct. In Colombia the species is found in the Orinoco Region and the Amazonian.
The general problem situation has been the overuse of the species, where approximately 40 thousand individuals were hunted in the past to make “pelo de guama” hats, product from the Llanos Orientales of Colombia and Venezuela.
This document presents information about the program developed by Fundación Zoológica Colombiana at the Meta Department, Colombia.
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