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History of Chinchillas & Chinchillas as an Endangered Species

Chinchillas are known for their luxurious fur but there is far more to a chinchilla than its beautiful, plush fur. Chinchillas as animals are highly intelligent and possess distinct personalities. They are incredibly curious little creatures and (despite their intelligence) this curiosity can land them in all sorts of trouble (chewing through electrical cables or trying to get to places they should not, for example). There are two species of chinchilla: the chinchilla brevicaudata (short-tailed and rounded bodies) and the chinchilla lanigera (long-tailed, pointed head, and rangey body). Most chinchillas bred now-a-days are thought to be a crossing of the two chinchilla types.

A Brief Chinchilla History

The origins of man’s relationship with the beautiful, charismatic, mischievous, and inquisitive little creature known as a chinchilla is shrouded in the mists of time and legend.

The chinchilla is a small, rabbit-sized rodent which originated in Peru, Chile, Bolivia, and Argentina . Once prized by ancient tribes and royalty the chinchilla has been hunted for food and fur, removed from it’s native lands to farm, and now has a special place in many homes as a much loved pet. What follows is a brief history of the chinchilla from ancient times up to the present.

Long before Columbus discovered America, chinchillas were hunted by the Chincha Indians who valued them for both their meat and their luxurious fur. The Incas conquered the Chincha Indians and the chinchilla became the spoils of victor however, after the conquest, only Inca royalty were allowed to wear the highly valued, beautifully soft, and warm furs; which they did, alongside ceremonial feathers. The pelts were used to adorn their dwelling places and were also worn as “badges of distinction” (Bowen and Jenkins, 1969).

In the 1500s the Spaniards conquered the Incas and named the beautiful little grey and white furry animals “Chinchillas” meaning “Little Chincha”. Chinchilla robes were sent to Spanish Royals, setting court fashion but it was not until the 1700s that chinchilla fur became popular throughout Europe.

Sadly this was the beginning of a massive decline for the wild chinchilla and in the 1800s chinchilla furs were exported from South America in great quantities. The early 1900s saw the South American government place an export duty on all skins leaving the country in an effort to slow down the decline of the chinchilla population however, this did not stop the exploitation of the chinchilla and in 1910 the four South American governments concerned set up regulations which prohibited the trapping and killing of the chinchilla. They even encouraged raising the animals in captivity in their native countries.

1918 saw an American working in Chile, called Mathias Chapman, meeting his first chinchilla. He was fascinated and intrigued by the inquisitive and beautiful little creatures. It was this fascination which led to the long and arduous process of capturing and eventually gaining permission to export 11 chinchillas to California (which he accomplished in 1922). The journey for the chinchillas was a difficult one and spent most of the trip down in the hold with the chinchillas, ensuring their (relative) comfort. This included using huge blocks of ice to keep them cool. Despite the difficulties, Chapman persevered and started up the first chinchilla ranch in the US . Thus, the chinchilla fur farming industry came into existence in 1923.

Over the next few decades more chinchilla ranches were set up in the US, in Canada, and in Europe . In the late 1950s and early 1960s colour mutations began to appear in various ranches and the standard grey chinchilla with it’s pure white contrast belly was joined by the Tower Beige, Wilson White, Gunning Black, Sullivan Violet, Larson Sapphire, Broucke Charcoal Brown etc.

Happily for the chinchilla, there are no chinchilla farms in the UK now due to legislation prohibiting the raising of animals for pelting. There are several breeders in the UK however, who have considerable numbers of chinchillas, but these are now bred mainly for the pet market and for showing.

The chinchilla is still classed as an “exotic” but they have become increasingly popular as pets. They are intelligent, charming, highly inquisitive bundles of mischief, and have distinctly individual characters. Their curiosity is a delight to watch when they are investigating a new toy, a new cage or exercise environment and there is nothing more magical than touching or stroking the soft fur on a chinchilla’s chin whilst they close their eyes in contented bliss.

This BBC Arkive site has some very interesting chincilla videso on it - personally I am not convinced that this is a true “wild” set-up, partly because the rocks are somewhat artificial looking but also because the dust the chinchilla is seen bathing in looks suspiciously like Sepiolite which is a commercially prepared chichilla bathing dust. The chinchillas look fat and in excellent condition - a quick look at the chinchillas.org link at the bottom of this post shows true chinchillas in the wild - in comparison they are scruffy looking and lithe.

Chinchillas as an Endangered Species

Whilst the number of domestic chinchillas is growing due to their popularity as pets and their continued use for the fur trade (in countries other than the UK), wild chinchillas are listed as an endangered species. Chinchilla populations in the wild have been decimated by past hunting and trapping for fur but the biggest current threat to their continuesd survival is habitat destruction.

The plight of the chinchilla in the wild is internationally recognised. A new project led by the Zoological Society of London has been launched. Called the EDGE project (Evolutionarily Distinct & Globally Endangered), it seeks to raise awareness and conservation for the “forgotten” animals which are literally “on the edge”.

“EDGE species are truly one of a kind. If they disappear there will be nothing similar left on the planet. Two-thirds are receiving little or no conservation attention.”

The chinchilla brevicaudata is listed in the top 100 (number 57) as critically endangered and the chinchilla lanigera is listed as number 472 (vulnerable).

There is some good news for wild chinchillas though - An established conservation project is underway in Chile which aims to maintain what is left of the wild population and re-establish these wonderful creatures in their natural habitat (wildchinchillas.org).