Led by Arnaud Desbiez, a passionate conservationist working next to a powerful team spearheaded by Gabriel Massocato, the Projeto Tatu Canastra has managed to get people around the world to know of the existence of the Giant Armadillo. Their commitment to sharing information in scientific journals and the media has led to other conservationist initiatives being started with the goal of protecting this magnificent species in other countries of South America.

The Giant Armadillo can be found in 12 different South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela, inhabiting environments ranging from tropical forests to the Cerrado.

Despite its wide distribution across South America, the giant armadillo is becoming increasingly rare due to the loss of its natural habitat caused by human activities. Because of their large size as adults, giant armadillos become targets of predatory hunting. Although difficult to quantify, they are also hunted to satisfy the interests of collectors who covet their large claws. Other threats, such as fires and roadkill, also contribute to the decline of their population. Currently, little is known about the diseases that affect giant armadillos. However, the project team has been closely monitoring their health for over eight years through the Xenarthra Health Initiative.