The animal kingdom is a mystery created by a myriad of life forms; a balance that connects all species on the planet, including humans. In Mexico, it displays its beauty through a unique biodiversity. Nowadays, this natural heritage is threatened by the disappearance of some of the species that make this area unique. Respect and harmonious coexistence with humans are key to preventing this.
Do you want to know more about endangered animals in Mexico? In this Inspiration Guide post we offer an extensive list, ordered by each of the animal kingdom families, and we will explain what options are available to you to see some of them in an ethical way.
The importance of sustainable tourism
As individuals, the best way to help endangered species is to live a sustainable lifestyle. In order for sustainability to mean more than just a word, every specific action adds up, from the smallest to the most significant. At home, but also when traveling to other places.
Getting rid of single-use plastics, which pollute the natural habitats of endangered animals in Mexico and other parts of the world, or choosing local, seasonal products that promote the economy of holiday destinations are two good examples. Since 2020, all Iberostar hotels have been free of single-use plastics. In addition, the Honest Food philosophy promotes a conscious, responsible, multicultural gastronomy with local food that values local crops and sustainable fishing.
The Wave of Change movement is committed to sustainability. And also for an active philosophy that contributes to the protection of animals. All Iberostar hotels in Mexico have plans that work in this direction. In addition, travelers looking for an environmentally friendly vacation opt for activities such as the ethical observation of species such as whales and other endangered animals in Mexico. For them, it makes sense to join the wave of change.
Endangered mammals in Mexico
• Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
An ancient Aztec legend tells us how the ocelot, which at the beginning of time had smooth skin, was attacked by a new comet that appeared in the sky, and which the animal received with distrust and hostility. Its burns turned into spots. The story goes on telling us about a misunderstanding between an animal and a star ,as well as highlighting the importance of being hospitable to newcomers.
The most representative feline of Mexican culture is medium-sized, has a highly developed sense of hearing and the ability to glide through vegetation undetected by potential prey. It prefers night to day and solitude to company. Although there are more ocelots alive than individuals of other endangered species, they may soon become extinct.
• Jaguar (Panthera onca)
Revered by pre-Hispanic cultures as a symbol of power and protection, the Mexican jaguar may also soon disappear. Its population has been declining because it is considered dangerous. In addition, these animals, which are considered endangered in Mexico, are often forced to move out of their habitats in search of food as the natural environments in which they live are increasingly destroyed.
• Cozumel or pygmy raccoon (Procyon pygmaeus)
The Cozumel or pygmy raccoon is endemic to the island of Cozumel. This small mammal is distinguished from the common raccoon (which is also endangered) by its black band on its face and golden tail, as well as the shape of its nose and teeth. In 1901 it was classified as a separate species.
The island's fragile ecological balance and human actions have brought it to the brink of extinction. The ecological richness of its habitat invites visitors to visit Cozumel with responsibility and respect, without interfering in the course of the sensitive lives that inhabit it.
• San José Island Scrub Rabbit (Sylvilagus mansuetus)
This curious herbivore inhabits another Mexican island, San José. With its long ears, wide-awake window-like eyes and soft, grayish fur, the San José Island Scrub Rabbit is threatened by predator population growth, habitat deterioration and illegal hunting. It is estimated that there are between 25 and 35 specimens per square kilometer in the whole island territory.
• Whale (Balaenidae)
The blue whale (which can measure up to 31 meters long and weigh up to 200 tonnes), the gray whale, the Rice whale or the Bryde whale are just some of the types of whales that are considered endangered animals in Mexico. In total, Mexico is home to eight different species of whales. Their life expectancy is about 30 years.
These large mammals are important not only for their own existence, but also for the health of the oceans. In Filosofía ante la crisis ecológica, una propuesta de convivencia con las demás especies: decrecimiento, veganismo y rewilding (Plaza y Valdés Editores, 2022), Marta Tafalla explains that "by fertilizing surface waters with their excrement, whales favour the development of phytoplankton (...) Phytoplankton is at the base of the food chain: the more phytoplankton, the more fish. And it plays a key role in sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, which helps offset our emissions".
According to scientists, up to a million animal species live in the sea in perfect symbiosis, many of them still unknown, including mammals, molluscs, crustaceans, fish, microbes and even some birds. Caring for them and their home is everyone's job.
Marine endangered animals in Mexico
• Whale (Balaenidae)
As if it were a migration through time and universal totality, this monumental creature swims from its mammalian condition to the protection of other endangered marine animals in Mexico, which it sustains by its mere presence. In turn, the entire ocean makes life on Earth possible: the fascination that humans feel for whales acquires a timeless dimension here. Today, many people flock to places like Mexico to see them.
Riviera Nayarit, in the heart of the Pacific, is one of the preferred destinations for ethical whale watching. Near Iberostar Selection Playa Mita you will find the Marieta Islands, a national park whose beauty captivated oceanographer Jacques Cousteau and where it is possible to witness the imposing appearance of the humpback whale during the winter months.
• Whale shark (Rhincodon typus)
The whale shark is the largest marine species, measuring up to twelve meters long. In spite of its disturbing flattened face and large wingspan, it is a docile and calm animal. In several places in Mexico, such as Quintana Roo and Baja California, it is possible to swim with whale sharks between the months of June and September, thus respecting the animal's natural reproductive cycles. It is an ethical way to visit them in their own environment and without interfering in it, always in a legal and controlled way.
• Vaquita (Phocoena sinus)
The vaquita, also known as cochito in Mexico, named for its characteristic black spots around the eyes and mouth, belongs to the kingdom of cetaceans. It is a peaceful animal, endowed with great intelligence and communicates by sound waves. Like the whale, it helps maintain the health of the oceans.
According to scientific estimates, it is estimated that only about 10 specimens survive in Mexican waters, their only habitat. This makes their sightings difficult. In addition to being captured, they often get caught in fishing nets intended for other species.
• Caribbean or Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus)
The Caribbean manatee is the only herbivorous aquatic mammal on the planet. It inhabits both fresh and salty tropical waters. With a gentle appearance reminiscent of an animated, almost mythological rock, its gray and brown body can reach 3 to 4.5 meters in length.
It is estimated that there are fewer than 2,500 adult individuals left alive, with a projected decline of more than 20% over the next two generations. The first cause is the impacts they suffer against ships. In addition, they are captured for their meat, which began to be consumed with the arrival of the Spanish in America (when they discovered that manatees were animals and not mermaids, as they first believed).
• Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban)
The parrotfish entered the list of endangered animals in Mexico in 2019. Its striking colors, which give the impression that it is wearing makeup, make it one of the most popular in the Caribbean. But this friendly-looking species is also one of the main generators of white sand on the paradisiacal beaches of the Riviera Maya, including those of Playa del Carmen, Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
Sea pollution and deterioration of the coral reefs, where it shelters, feeds and thrives, is causing its population to dwindle year after year. Since Wave of Change first began, Iberostar has opened three coral nurseries in the Cozumel Reefs National Park, in front of Iberostar Waves Cozumel. This nursery, like those in the Riviera Maya and the Dominican Republic, serves as a space to increase biodiversity in different parts of the Caribbean, analyze temperature changes in the coral community and monitor coral growth over time.
Endangered birds in Mexico
• Scarlet Macaw (Ara Macao)
Out of all the endangered animals in Mexico, the scarlet macaw is one of the most exposed to the climate crisis and habitat destruction. It used to be found in six states in the country, but now it is only found in the Lacandon Jungle. Its beautiful colors, among which red stands out, and its magnetic aura led the Mayan and Aztec civilizations to identify it with the god of the sun and fire. In addition, thanks to its sociable nature, its existence has always been linked to that of human beings, with whom it has coexisted in harmony and freedom for centuries.
• Yellow-headed Parrot (Amazona oratrix)
The yellow-headed parrot has the ability to imitate numerous sounds, including human voices. Many of these sentient beings spend their lives locked up in cages, something that goes against their nature, since their place is in tropical forests and jungles. The beauty of seeing them in their natural habitat, surrounded by vegetation and life, connects us with that animal nature to which we also belong.
• Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno)
Another endangered bird in Mexico is the quetzal. In addition to Mexico, it also lives in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and western Panama, although it is in Mexico where it is most endangered. Its name comes from the Nahuatl language and means "beautiful feather". Emerald green, vibrant blue, fiery red, deep brown... the colours of its plumage are so impressive that both the Mayans and the Aztecs considered it a sacred bird with magical powers. Its great sense of direction and its eloquent whistling probably also played a role.
• Short-crested coquette (Lophornis brachylophus)
The Short-crested coquette began to become extinct in the 1990s, due to the destruction of its habitat for illegal drug cultivation. It is estimated that between 10 and 19 % of its population disappears every 10 years. It is a tiny hummingbird measuring between 7 and 7.5 centimetres and weighing about 2.7 grams. The area where it lives is as small as its size, as it is only found in the south of Mexico, 25 kilometres north-east of Acapulco. It does, however, ingest the equivalent of twice its body weight in insects and flower nectar every day.
• Black-polled yellowthroat (Geothlypis speciosa)
For ten years, there were no sightings of the Black-polled yellowthroat, so it was thought to be extinct. However, some specimens of this species reappeared in the marshy areas of the State of Mexico. Its feathers are golden, violet and grey, with a long tail that helps it glide through the air. It lives only in bodies of water surrounded by aquatic vegetation, which is why its ecosystem is also small and therefore particularly fragile. This is a common trait shared by many birds endemic to very specific areas of the planet.
Endangered amphibians and reptiles in Mexico
• Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
The loggerhead turtle is also known as the yellow turtle. For natives, it is the mother that gave birth to all mankind. It has lacrimal glands behind each eye to excrete excess salt after ingesting seawater. That is why, when it is on land, it looks as if it is crying. It is carnivorous and feeds on small mollusks and shellfish, although sometimes it complements its diet with algae and plants from the seabed.
Females come to spawn in the exact place where they were born. On the coasts of Baja California it is possible to witness the hatching of the eggs and the journey of the newborn turtles towards the sea with distance and respect. Keep in mind that this species faces numerous threats caused by humans. The best help? Responsibility and ethical observation to appreciate them in all their splendor.
• Mapimí pocket turtle (Gopherus flavomarginatus)
Protector of the deserts of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango, the Mapimí pocket turtle likes to share experiences, enjoying a long natural life in society. Through a network of burrows dug to protect them from inclement weather and predators, they participate directly in the quality of the soil. It is the largest turtle in North America, also known as the Mexican giant tortoise.
It is critically endangered by the climate crisis, as its integrity depends directly on the state of the soil and climate. On the other hand, like other Mexican species, it is poached and illegally captured. It is estimated that there are around 2,500 Mapimí pocket turtles left alive. In 2007, it was classified as a vulnerable species because its population decreased by 50% in less than three generations.
• Ajolotl or axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)
"In the Saint-Geneviève library, I consulted a dictionary and learned that axolotls are larval forms, provided with gills, of a species of batrachians of the genus Ambystoma. That they were Mexican I already knew from themselves, from their little pink Aztec faces (...) capable of living on land during periods of drought, and that they continue their life in the water when the rainy season arrives." In one of his short stories, entitled Axolotl, the Argentinian writer Julio Cortázar describes the salamander in this way. The story explores the narrator's identification with these fascinating amphibians, which he compulsively observes until, as if it had always been so, he ends up becoming one.
The name ajolote (Spanish for Ajolotl) refers to the Aztec god of fire and lightning in Nahuatl, who disguised himself as a salamander to avoid being sacrificed. Paradoxically, pollution and the draining of Lake Xochimilco, the small habitat of these endangered animals in Mexico, are causing their population to decrease. They are also captured for aquariums and restaurants. Environmental associations such as Umbral Axiochatl or the Chapultepec Forest Amphibian Rescue Program (promoted by the Secretary of the Environment of the Mexico City Government) are trying to prevent their extinction.
