Alongside their closest relatives, the sloths and anteaters, armadillos form one of the oldest groups of mammals living today. Most of the 23 species of armadillos live in Central and South America.
Because armadillos are primarily nocturnal, mostly live underground as solitary animals, and often occupy large territories, it is a challenge to study these animals or even determine their population sizes. The threat status of some armadillo species could therefore still not be determined in the IUCN Red List because too little is known about them.
The number of armadillos is rapidly declining in most areas. In South America, armadillos are frequently hunted for their palatable meat, while industrial agriculture, with its rice, timber, and palm oil plantations, is increasingly encroaching upon the habitats of armadillos, and oil extraction also negatively impacts the animals.
Additionally, the use of pesticides in agriculture is increasing, causing insects, the food source of armadillos, to disappear more and more.
The armadillo was selected as "Zoo Animal of the Year" because the threat it faces has not yet been in the public spotlight. The aim of the campaign is therefore to draw more attention to various endangered armadillos and to collect donations to support conservation projects in their countries of origin – in Brazil and Colombia.
The Görlitz Zoo is part of the campaign as a platinum sponsor.
