Why wildlife in Guatemala needs to be protected

Principal endangered species in Guatemala, CITES, why it’s important…


Despite their highly endangered status, leatherback
eggs can still be seen for sale in Guatemalan markets.

Wildlife in Guatemala suffers from a wide range of threats including hunting, trafficking for the illegal pet trade, loss of habitat through deforestation and the spread of the agricultural frontier, and the introduction of invasive, exotic species.

In Guatemala, there is a 2.5% human population growth rate, only 68% of the people can read and write and 58% of the population lives below the official poverty level. As many ARCAS volunteers learn, under these conditions, wildlife conservation has as much to do about working with local human communities as it does with rehabilitating parrot chicks. While the enforcement of international trade under CITES continues to be important, it is equally important to address domestic demand through education and awareness-raising.


Residents of some of the more remote villanges in Petén still offer visiting tourists wildlife products, such as this young girl from Uaxactun.



Most endangered species in Guatemala, from 2006 Annual Report: