Endangered Species Project

The harpy eagle is most common in Brazil, but it can be found from Mexico as far south as Argentina. Unfortunately, the species is almost extinct in Central America, subsequent to the logging of much of the rainforest there. It is considered as Near Threatened or Vulnerable in most of the South American. It has disappeared from El Salvador, and almost from Costa Rica.

This eagle is threatened primarily by habitat loss due to the expansion of logging, cattle ranching, agriculture, and prospecting. Also, is being hunted as is wrongly believed it can be a threat to livestock or human life, due to its size. Despite it is not known to prey on humans and only rarely on domestic stock, the eagle's large size and nearly fearless behaviour around humans reportedly make it an "irresistible target" for hunters

Geoffroy's spider monkeys, also called black-handed spider monkeys, play an important role as seed dispersers. Foraging activity also stimulates the growth of trees, since extra foliage, branches, and another organic matter dropped from the canopy provides nutrients to the soil.

This monkey is native to Central America and is classified as Endangered by the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN). This species of monkey is one of the world’s 25 most endangered primates in the 2018-2020 Primates in Peril report. Over the past 45 years (three generations), their population has suffered a 50-per cent decline.

The main reason for the threat of this specie is the habitat loss through deforestation. However, Geoffroy's spider monkeys are also hunted for food and captured for the pet trade throughout Central America.

The black-headed spider monkey is found in Panama, Colombia, and Ecuador.

They are primarily, herbivore, or more precisely, folivore and frugivore, living on especially plant foods including leaves, seeds, grains, nuts, and fruits. However, because they also feed on some animal foods like eggs and insects, occasionally, they are biological omnivores.

According to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, the black-headed spider monkey is considered as critically endangered. They have lost about 80% of its population over a 45-year span from hunting and humans encroaching on its habitat. In captivity, they can live for more than 24 years.

The Panamanian golden frog is extinct in the wild. It was filmed for the last time in the wild in 2006 by the BBC Natural History Unit for the series Life in Cold Blood by David Attenborough. It began vanishing from its high mountain forests in the late 1990s, prompting a scientific investigation and rescue process that continues today.

The remaining few specimens were taken into captivity and the location of filming was kept secret to protect them from potential poachers. Although captive populations seem to thrive well, reintroducing them to an area will not stop the threat of chytridiomycosis. No current remedies prevent or control the disease in the wild, but efforts are being made.

The San Diego Zoo started a conservation effort and received their first frogs in 2003. Since then, they have been able to successfully breed 500 individuals in captivity but will not release them into the wild until the fungal disease is less of a threat.