According to Bagheera, one reason why Giant Otters are endangered because of its fur. Their fur is one of the finest furs in the world. Their fur is so dense that water could not reach their skin. Hunting otters were also easy and very profitable. One giant otter pelt can pay off a common worker for a year. They were easy targets to hunters and they were nearly wiped out completely by 1970. Even after hunting for their fur was banned, they are still shot by hunters who don't know the law or by competing fishermen.

Giant otters are very important to the Amazon rainforest. According to Amazon Aid, Giant otters are the top predators in the river ecosystems, meaning that they are important for keeping a balance in the ecosystem. Also according to Amazon aid, they are good indicators of the ecosystem. This means that the Giant otter population shows the health of the ecosystem that they live in. Amazon aid also says that since they are top predators, so if they are wiped out, the ecosystem they were living in would collapse.