Huemul (South American deer)

The huemul is a critically endangered deer native to the Andes in South America, particularly Argentina and Chile. Recognized for its soft, gray-brown coat and sturdy build, it inhabits mountain forests and high-altitude regions. The huemul plays a vital role in its ecosystem as both a herbivore and a prey species. Due to habitat loss, hunting, and low reproductive rates, its population has declined sharply, prompting conservation efforts to protect this rare and iconic species of the South American mountains.