| Chinchillas are a variety of rodent that did | | | | takes approximately 90 chinchillas pelts to make |
| originate in South American. They have luxurious, | | | | just one fur coat. Pet lovers upon seeing their |
| tight, thick fur coat. In the wild they have a life | | | | declining numbers eleven (11) chinchillas were |
| expectancy from approximately 10 to near 20 | | | | rescued and brought back to the United States. |
| years. Their life expectancy is greater in captivity | | | | One of the rescued animals died and one was |
| with a span of ten to twenty (10 to 20 years). | | | | born keeping a group of eleven (11) animals. All |
| In the early 1900's chinchillas were about to be | | | | the chinchillas in the United States are |
| wiped off the face of the earth. They were | | | | descendants from the original 11 imported by the |
| methodically being hunted and killed for their fur. It | | | | pet lovers. |
