chinchilla fur trade on an international level goes back to the 16th century. their fur is popular due because of its soft feel, which are mainly used in coats. a single, full-length coat made from chinchilla fur may require as many as 150 pelts, as chinchillas are relatively small. their use for fur led to the extinction of one species, and put serious pressure on the other two. though it is illegal to hunt wild chinchillas, they are about to be extinct because of continued poaching. domesticated chinchillas are still bred for fur.