Endangered species in MexicoRebeca Herrera Barrera

What endangered species are there in Mexico?• CatsThe endangered jaguar weighs from 200 to 250 pounds. Jaguars may reach up to 3 feet in height with a 3-foot body length. Another endangered cat, the Mexican bobcat, lives in the central part of the country. The bobcat, which weighs from 13 to 30 pounds and has light gray to reddish-brown fur, hunts in swamps, deserts and forests where it preys on small animals.

• MonkeysThe endangered mantled howler monkey lives in the southern part of the country. The monkey gets its name from the long, golden hair that forms a fringe along the sides of its head, often referred to as a "mantle." The Guatemalan black howler, another endangered monkey known for its loud call, lives in Mexico's lowland tropical rain forest.

• MarineThe Vaquita, a species of porpoise found in Mexico's Gulf of California, lives in shallow, muddy lagoons along the coast. Another endangered species, the Coahuilan box turtle, lives in shallow grassy marshes in central Coahuila.

• BirdsThe short-crested coquette, a tiny hummingbird, lives in a small area in Guerrero where it feasts on nectar and insects. Another endangered bird, the harpy eagle, lives in the rain forests of southern Mexico where it preys on small mammals, monkeys and sloths.

What is the goverment doing to protect them?EcologyFund is helping Pronatura (Mexico's largest conservation organization) and The Wildlands Project (Pronatura's partner in the Sierra Madre Mexican Thick-billed parrot Project) protect some of Mexico's most endangered species by conserving imperiled habitats. The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org) is helping Pronatura purchase the Cuatro Cienegas property.

Protect the Pozas Azules and the Cuatro Cienegas BasinEcology Fund is helping Pronatura purchase 7,000 acres in the Cuatro Cienegas Valley, home to over 100 endemic animal and plant species. The basin features the incredible Pozas Azules, desert springs that support diverse wildlife in multi-colored sink hole ponds with unique species like the Cuatro Cienegas pupfish and cichlid, as well as living stromatolites.

Protect Endangered ParrotsThe second Ecology Fund Mexican project preserves the nesting areas of the largest breeding population of the Mexican Thick-billed parrot. It is the joint work of Pronatura, The Wildlands Project based in Tucson, Arizona, and three other conservation groups who arranged a 15 year lease on 6,000 acres of undisturbed forest in the Sierra Madre Mountains, in order to prevent the area from being logged in 2002. By replacing the logging income with eco-tourism related to the parrots and old growth forest, the hope is that this will permanently save the species from extinction and allow their reintroduction to their former range in the "Sky Islands" (isolated mountain ranges surrounded by desert) in the American Southwest.

Why are animals important to humans?Animals affect everyones lifes. They can be soo important from companionship to food source. Pets impact our lives in a positive way . The different ways animals are important for humans are the next ones:• Take care of humans• Working for humans• Caretaking skills• Livelihood• Food• Sport• Rehabilitacion