Domestic chinchillas are quite common as pets, but many people are surprised to learn they are close to extinction in the wild. The Minnesota Zoo supports conservation efforts to improve chinchilla habitat and replant lost vegetation.
What They Eat
Chinchillas wait until dusk to begin foraging. They prefer grass, but will eat any kind of available vegetation.
Where They Live
These social rodents live in the arid rocky regions of the central Andes Mountains and coastal foothills. During the day, they seek shelter in rock crevices, under vegetation, or in burrows. Today there are only a handful of long-tailed chinchilla populations in Chile and a few short-tailed chinchilla populations remaining in Chile, Bolivia, and possibly Argentina.
What They Do
Chinchilla fur is so dense that it doesn’t dry easily when wet. To keep themselves clean, chinchillas take regular dust baths.
How They’re Doing
Both species of chinchillas are endangered. In the past, chinchillas were hunted for their pelts, and some were captured for the pet trade. The small remaining populations of wild chinchillas continue to be threatened by habitat degradation and poaching.
Where in the World
South America
Habitat
Arid mountains and coastal foothills
Conservation Status
Animal Facts
Body length: 12-21 inches.
Weight: up to 1.8 pounds
Lifespan: 10 years in the wild, up to 20 years for domestic varieties
Taxonomic Category
Mammal, Rodent
Where at the Zoo
