ptwang.wavptwang.wav
ORDER: Rodentia
|
|
Chinchillas, (Chinchilla laniger), Chinchillas have become popular
as pets although originally they were wild animals in the Andes Mountains
in South America. Chinchillas are in the Order Rodentia that is shared with
animals ranging from prairie dogs to mice.
LET'S LISTEN TO SOME CHINCHILLA NOISES
I'm on the loose and looking for adventure.
Go away, I'm not in the mood to deal with humans!
This is a story of Dusty and Beau's relatives and how it happens that we
now have a population of chinchillas in our zoo.
The Chinchilla has been internationally prized for
its luxuriously soft fur since shortly after the
conquest and occupation of Spanish America.
There, on the dry slopes of the Andes in Chile,
Peru, Bolivia and Argentina, they flourished in
the wild state. Chinchilla got its name from the
Chincha Indians, who used the chinchilla for food
and clothing.
During the 15th Century, a tribe of Indians, the
Chinchas, had hunted and trapped this tiny animal
subsisting on the meat and using the skins to
sleep on. They also wore robes woven from the
plucked fur. So the Spaniards called this all
important little animal Chinchilla after the
Chinchas.
In time, the Chinchas were conquered by the
mighty Inca Indians. Under Inca rule, the
Chinchas were forbidden to wear the Chinchilla
robes. They immediately became the fur of the
Inca Royalty and adorned only those Incas who
were of noble birth.
In the 16th Century the Incas were, in turn,
conquered by the Spaniards who demanded great
tributes for their queen. A story is told of one
emissary who, seeking to win favor, sent his
queen a strong box filled with jewels and gold
plate. For protection, he wrapped the box in a
Chinchilla robe that he had taken from an Inca
Chief.
The messenger, however, who was dispatched to
the queen stole the jewels and gold plate and sent
the queen only the box into which he had stuffed
the Chinchilla robe. He then fled. So delighted
was the queen with this exquisite fur that she had
the messenger found and brought to court. Instead
of torture and death as he expected, the messenger
was knighted as a token of her appreciation for
such a rare and exquisite fur, more beautiful and
luxurious than any she had ever seen before.
Thus was Chinchilla introduced to the civilized
world every woman in Spain longed for fur such
as the queen wore. Never had they seen a fur so
soft, so light, of such delicate bluegray tones,
with such subtle, almost iridescent shading. It
was a never ending source of fascination and envy
to all who were fortunate enough to see
Chinchilla.
So great was the demand that the Spaniards in
South America sought for Chinchilla with the
same zeal that they searched for gold and precious
stones. The demand continued to grow faster than
the supply as news of this rare and lovely fur
spread over Europe.
The mining ventures called the British to the
Andes and, longing for their native sport, they
sent to England for red foxes which they turned
loose in the Chinchilla's native habitat. On
weekends, the English hunted the fox, and every
day and night during the week the fox hunted the
Chinchilla.
Between the demand for the fur and the predator
fox, the Chinchilla was reduced to near extinction
by the turn of the century.
In 1918, the governments of Chile, Peru and
Bolivia outlawed the exportation of pelts and
prohibited trapping but the harm was already
done.
In 1918, Mathias F. Chapman, a mining engineer
in Chile, became acquainted with this priceless
furbearer. One day an Indian trapper brought one
of the precious animals to the mining camp.
Chapman, realizing the inestimable worth of
Chinchilla, and being shocked at the destruction
of the Chinchilla population, became fascinated
with the idea of trapping enough animals alive so
that he might bring them to the United States and
raise them in captivity as the one and only means
of actually saving the species.
His associates knew that the Chinchilla was
practically extinct in the wilds and that all efforts
to domesticate them had failed, so when Chapman
actually set about his plan to rescue the
Chinchilla, they thought him mad. He hired
several Indian trappers and promised them much
gold for every "blue" Chinchilla they brought to
him alive.
At last, after four years with as many as 23
Indians covering the high peaks of the Andes
mountains, a small number of these precious
animals were accumulated. Eleven of these
animals reached the United States and they can
truly be called the "founding fathers" of today's
Chinchilla population.
Since 1923 when the first eleven animals were
imported to the United States, the Chinchilla
industry has grown from a wild promotional game
to a sound, profitable business. As late as the
early 1950's, breeding pairs sold for thousands of
dollars. The true value of Chinchilla could not be
set because the pelt market had not been
established. The term quality meant very little.
But even during this speculative period, men with
practical vision could see a great future for the
Chinchilla industry. These men recognized the
potential market for Chinchilla pelts. They formed
organizations for creating a market for Chinchilla
pelts.
They first adopted standards to upgrade the
quality of pelts. An advertising and promotion
plan was soon put into effect proclaiming these
quality pelts. Breeders thus found raising
Chinchilla a profitable venture.
Today the Chinchilla industry is thriving and
growing daily.
M. F. Chapman
The chinchilla is from 10 to 14 inches long, with a tail 6-8 inches. They
weigh about one pound or a little more. Their hind limbs are longer than
their front limbs which give them great jumping power.
Females and males become sexually mature at 5-9 months of age. Mating usually
takes place in late fall. Gestation is 111 days and litter sizes are from
1 to 6 but average 3 or 4. The young nurse from 6 - 8 weeks. A female can
have up to three litters per year. Chinchillas can live up to 20 years in
captivity.
Provide high quality hay cubes and pumice stone for gnawing and to keep
teeth properly worn.
Chinchillas need a quiet environment, out of a draft or direct sunlight,
although they do need good light. Chinchillas like a nest box to sleep in
and have their babies. Climbing branches must be of a species that is not
toxic because they WILL chew on them. They prefer a temperature of 65-70
degrees F so if you are a warmblooded type, you might prefer a reptile.
Chinchillas are active a dusk and dawn and do not like direct, bright light
or loud noises but they do need about 12 hours of light per 24 hour period.
Chinchillas must have a pan of special 'dusting material' (volcanic ash
prepared for chinchillas) placed in their enclosure almost daily. If you
do not, the coat will become oily and lose its softness. This will cause
quite a bit of mess in the area around the cage. Placing the pan containing
the dust for 30 minutes a day will be sufficient. The dust can be placed
in a large jar or fish bowl or heavy metal pan. Their teeth must be monitored
as in all rodents. If you put fresh branches in the cage regularly, you
will probably never have problems. Males can get hair rings around their
penis and prevent them from retracting it. These have to be removed by hand
with forceps or tweezers.
An automatic watering system or rabbit bottle on the outside of the cage
both work well for water.
Chinchillas originate from the Cordillera and Andes mountains in South America. They hide
from their worst enemies, which are birds of prey ( although some would say man and the fur
trade !!) in cracks and crevices, which also protects them from the strong sunlight.
Chinchillas are no stranger to cold, they lived high up in the mountains , right up to snow line,
after all they have a perfect fur coat to protect themselves. Anywho who has stroked a chinchilla
cannot help but marvel at its coat, which has an amazing 60 hairs coming from each root. Their
coat has another trick, its very loose, which means when a bird of prey swooped, all it got was
hair !!, and the chinchilla had the last laugh !!
