A

Projects

Colombia

Hab

Spp

Peo

Habitat

Species focus

Implement

Research

A1

Jaime Duque Zoo

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Mix of S. American spp

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A2

Santa Cruz Zoo

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Mix of S. American spp.

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A3

Raptor Centre

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All over Colombia

Colombia Raptors

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A4

Araguatos Primate Centre

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Gallery forest in eastern Savannah area

Colombia Primates:
Red Howler monkeys
Capuchin monkeys
Squirrel monkeys

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A5

Fundacion Ecolombia – La Pintada rehabilitation centre + reserve

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Tropical Dry Forest - central

Red howler monkeys, and other Primates, Blue knobbed Guan (Crax alberti) + 2 toed sloth

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A6

UNAU Project – 
Sloth Rescue Centre

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Humid Tropical and Dry Tropical forest - central

Two and three toed Sloth

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A7

Cali Zoo 
in-situ projects.

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Lowland swamp and lagoon habitat, Cloud forest. West

Local species of Turtles + guans, Macaws (esp. Ara ambigua), Giant Otters, Andean condors

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A8

Fundacion RenaSer – National Condor Programme

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Andean Highlands

Condo, other highland spp inc Andean Bear, coati and guan.

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A9

Isla de Rosario Oceanarium, research + community projects.

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Caribbean Coral reef islands

Turtles, lobster, conch, coral reef and commercial open water fish species.

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A10

Casa Loma Private Reserve, tree nursery + community projects

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Tropical N. costal dry forest

Jaguar, coati, caiman, Native tree nursery.

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A11

Proyecto Titi, conservation for Cotton Top Tamarin

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Tropical N. costal dry forest

Cotton Top Tamarin conservation

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A12

Bucaramanga Zoologists:forming new National Park + associated community projects.

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Arid canyon through tropical forest, up through, cloud forest into Paramo. 

Edible ants, native bees, National park to protect Howler monkeys, jaguar, Andean bear, mountain pacca etc.

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A13

Amazonian Zoo + Botanical Garden

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Leticia in the Colombian Amazon

Amazonian wildlife and plants.

A14

Fundacion OMACHA – Aquatic Mammal conservation.

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Along Amazon + Orinoco rivers, their tributaries, flooded forests and lagoons.

Aquatic mammals : Pink river dolphin, Grey river dolphin, Manatee and giant otter.

R

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R

A15

Proyecto Piuri – Conservation of the wattled curassow.

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Seasonally flooded Island in the Amazon River

Wattled Curasow, Crax globuloso

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A16

Ibague student group

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Cloud forest to Paramo

Mountain tapir and spider monkey

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An introduction to South American Wildlife and the Zoos We spent our first two "working" days visiting two zoos just out of Bogotá. Meeting the staff and the animals has given us a very good idea of the attitude, role and conditions in Colombian zoos and also has been invaluable in helping us get acquainted with some of the species we will hopefully meet in the wild.

Project 1. Jaime Duque Zoo

June 2001

The Severn wonders of the world. We went off to visit a Zoo just out of Bogotá to the north West up in the hills again. This zoo has the interesting and really quite unique feature of being owned by a Crazy Old Colombian who's main mission in life is to reconstruct the 7 or 8 wonders of the world in the theme park (of which the zoo is part).

A taste of India in the Andes. So picture this you have the outstanding views of the Andes in the background and quietly grazing Tapir and Capybara in the foreground, all of which are some what over shadowed by a half constructed, half painted, concrete Taj Mahal in the mid ground!

Planning Priorities. The Zoo has great potential and is doing great things with the little it has got. It does not cost a fortune to house native animals well in this climate, however with all the profit the park does make being sunk into the Taj Mahal, some areas are in need of a little investment.

Agouti restocking programme. All the animals kept there are either confiscates from the illegal trade in wild animals or circuses. They work very closely with universities in Bogotá and have a rolling programme of research students who do voluntary work and their thesis's there. The director is a vet and is in the process of establishing a restocking programme for local areas where agouti have been wiped out, as the zoo has been so successful in breeding them.

Photo 0978: Confiscated Ocelot finds sanctuary at Jaime Duque Zoo

Photo 0984: A taste of India in the Andes

Photo 1009: The Zoo team and our Colombian advisors Ivan and Marcella.

June 2001

We went to see another zoo, Santa Cruz Zoo, 1hour's drive to the south of Bogotá, which is also run by a vet, named Heidi Mon Salve. The zoo is situated in spectacular surroundings on the slopes of the Andes, 300m above sea level. It's natural tropical vegetation, climate and the steeply sloping terrain makes it the envy of any Zoo director.

New Master Plan to Keep with the Competition. However again the zoo is incredibly under-funded and the confiscated animals it houses are kept in basic old fashion enclosures. The zoo is in the process of drawing up a radical new master plan to transform the zoo into a third generation, immersion exhibit style zoo for native species. The pressure is on to make this happen as a huge Mexican style theme park / zoo has just been given planning permission in a park in Bogotá. Unless Santa Cruz can offer it's visitors a radically different zoo experience then it is unlikely to survive.

A Foundation to make changes. Heidi and the Zoo directors are busy establishing the Zoo as a Foundation, so they can secure the funds necessary to make the master plan a reality. Heidi believes passionately that education is one of the most powerful tools in the conservation of the native flora and fauna of Colombia. She wants to make her zoo into THE place to challenge Colombian's views and understanding of their wildlife. And with the help of Ivan Lozano (our contact and South American Zoo Consultant), she has the expertise and the site to make it happen.
At Home in Santa Cruz. Heidi generously invited us to her house, where were treated to a traditional Colombian meal, which consisted of a basic chicken broth to which you added chicken, sweet corn, cheese, cream, capers, avocado and rice to taste! Followed by fresh figs filled with ... wait for it ....my favourite.. ARAQUIPE! Oh joy!

Garden delights We then had a stroll round the house that her architect and artist father built and decorated. His use of discarded picture frames and gold paint knocked the spots off anything "Changing Rooms" could do. All this was then finished off with drinks in the garden filled with fresh fruit trees, most of which I'd never heard of or seen before. A wonderful day.

  Surroundings that would be the envy of any Zoo director.

Photo 1038: Santa Cruz Zoo has bred many Jaguar.

Photo 1044: Director of Santa Cruz Zoo, Heidi, Jens and Julian the Amazonian tapir.

June 2001

Our first project for real The familiarisation sessions were now over, it was time to get down to the serious business of finding projects. After a 2 hour drive to the east of Bogotá, down into the Magdalena Valley, we arrived at a discreetly located Bird of Prey centre, owned, run and financed by Cesar Marquez.

The Raptor centre’s programme. This "Raptor expert" (an architect by training) decided to devote himself to the conservation and research of birds of prey and now works as a raptor researcher for The Humboldt Institute ( the environmental research institute in Colombia) as well as running his own rescue, rehabilitation, breeding and release programme for Colombian Birds of Prey.

WSPA funding ended. The infrastructure of the centre and two years running costs were originally paid for by WSPA. However due to a change in campaign focus they were forced to divert funds else where, so for the past 3 years Cesar has been financing it himself. The centre is well known by local and national authorities and Cesar is regularly called up to rescue confiscated birds, however no funds ever come with the animals.

Villeta Village's Best Kept Secret. The centre is actually built in the back yard of the 100 year old farmhouse formerly owned by his Grandparents. Once on the outskirts of a small sugar cane market town, the expansion of the settlement in the last 5 years has swallowed up Cesar's centre. Now no one would guess that 30 rare and endangered birds of prey (10 different species) are being given refuge behind such an urban façade.

The location and the secrecy of the centre is actually perfect as it ensures the birds are not disturbed by visitors and as a consequence, Cesar has been very successful in breeding many of the species he keeps. Each bird or pair has its own secluded aviary, with the crowning glory being a 100m square rehabilitation aviary.

Education for the Future. Education also features strongly in Cesar's plans for the future of his work. He already runs environmental education and recreation courses for children from Bogotá in a site in the mountains overlooking the city and would like to extend the educational activities and potential of this site by doing falconry demonstrations with some of the rescue animals that are unfit for re-release. In particular he feels two of the disabled birds he cares for could play an important role in illustrating to children the need to respect and care for wildlife, especially birds of prey.

A Raptor Activist. An activist in all areas of Raptor Ecology and conservation, Cesar is not only researching South American migratory birds of prey and the conflicts arising between Osprey and Colombian Fish farms, but he is also regional director and Spanish editor for "The Journal of Raptor Research", co-author of the "Latin American Falconiformes Conservation Assessment and management plan" and author of a definitive field guide to Colombian Birds of Prey.

The ultimate raptor field guide. This book covers all 76 species found in Colombia but in so doing also covers the major species found in other parts of Latin America. It contains a superb colour plate for each species along with flight silhouettes. However he unfortunately lacks the funds to get this excellent and important body of work into print and is looking for a suitable sponsor.

Photo 1075: Confiscated Harpy Eagle waits to kick start a breeding

Photo 1070: The 100yr old Secret garden.

Project 4: Araguatos Primate Centre Foundation for Primate Research and Conservation

7th - 9th June 2001

Our second project The second project we visited was a research, education, community liaison project based in the Los Llanos (Plains) area of Colombia which is run by Araguatos Primatology Centre.

The foundation The foundation is dedicated to the research and conservation of Colombian primates. They focus on primates as they suffer from various conservation pressures and in so doing give diagnostic information about the status of a whole habitat, they are also charismatic enough to spearhead any conservation action required.

Just one of many projects Araguatos run many different projects, however the one we went to visit is it's most recent and ambitious. It is based in an area of lowland humid gallery forest in "Los Llanos" the savannah or plains region of Colombia. The project started in April 2001 and intends to build a model to increase habitat and wildlife tolerance to increased interactions with man and domestic animals.

Wildlife health – we need to know more To do this they are to collect data on the health of the wildlife, domestic animals and humans living and interacting in the area. This is the first time anyone has attempted to produce a model that will predict the potential effects of opening up the area to eco-tourism, BEFORE it occurs.

An Holistic approach. It is a very holistic project, which intends to work with the farmers, hunters and schools of the local community. In working in and with the community they will obtain the data required, measure current practice and attitudes and also provide environmental education. It is hoped that this will then aid the discussion and development of a community conservation plan.

The species being studied The primates present in this region are the Red howler (Alouatta siniculus) and Capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella). We spent a total of 15 hours with field researchers and 10 different species of mosquito, moving between the extremes of the hot humidity of the forest and scorching dry savannah that surrounds it, in the quest for our first glimpse of a wild primate.

Our impressions of the project. 
Leaving the highlands We journeyed with Foundation Co-director "Fernando Nassar" in to the wilds of "Los Llanos" - the Plains of Colombia. This extremely diverse and complex habitat spreads out from the foothills of the Andes like a patch-work quilt. Home to Cowboys and cattle ranches, haciendas and paddy fields, agriculture has carved its mark on the landscape almost as deeply as the environment carves it's mark on the people.

A harsh but beautiful land We have been told many times that Colombia is a country of contrasts, and Los Llanos is yet another example of this. The seemingly infinite rolling planes of meadows and paddy fields, are suddenly interrupted by a vast meandering river or volcanic mounds rising from the flat. Even more surprising are the pockets of forests that nestle in among these mounds making use of the microclimates found there. These forests lie almost hidden from passers-by and certainly the few trees visible at their fringes do not give any hint of the beauty and wildlife they contain.

It’s just starting. In the first months of the Los Llanos field project, researchers have surveyed the area, made and marked transects across it, located and established social grouping of the primate groups and started construction of a field station.

Walking the transects – a hard day at the forest! We joined them for a day's primate study, which started at 5am. We stood outside the forest on one of the savannah mounds, and waited for the howler monkeys, Alouatta siniculus, to awake, so we could locate them in the dense forest from their distinctive howls. At 5.30 we heard our first troop waking up.

What a strange sound! A mix between the howl of a wolf and a low roll of thunder, it was like nothing we'd ever heard before and sounded very eerie in the half light and mists of dawn. After that we plunged into the dark forests in silence but very excited and made our way towards the distant sounds.

Half way there the howls stopped and we had lost them. The sound of 7 of us tromping through the undergrowth, regardless of how slow or silent we were, was enough to put the monkeys off their breakfast and morning howl. This turned out to be a problem for the day, and even when we split up into smaller groups and sat silently for long periods, we still didn't manage to locate a single troop.

Discarded monkey food. Perversely it was easy to see where they had been, they left little clews of half eaten fruits and faeces. However the wonders of the habitat around us kept our spirits up, the never ending rows of leaf cutting ants carrying their loads back to their colony, the refreshing liana sap, stems of various plants and filling nuts that our guide showed us how to eat. And all the while the mosquitoes kept eating us, which kept us alert.

Dinner time and a tropical storm. After 8 hours of searching and waiting we emerged from the forest to enjoy a pick-nick lunch while swinging in hammocks under the palm roof of the half constructed field station. While we feasted a strong wind blew up followed by an hour of torrential rain, we rolled ourselves up in the hammocks and dozed until it stopped. Sleepy and slightly damp we re-entered the forest for a final search at 3pm.

Waiting for howlers. In the next two hours we listened, walked, climbed, sweated and slid up and down the steep hillsides - but still all in vane - no monkeys just a silent forest. We left the trees exhausted and just a little defeated, with sore feet and many bites to nurse we began to dream of a swim in the river and a bed.

Giving up. On arriving at the car we discovered we had a flat tire! Just then a tractor approached with 2 field assistants and the farmer waving madly and howling "Mikos, Mikos!". We dropped our bags and ran after them and there, just around the corner, 50 m from the car we saw a brown spot in a treetop - and the rain started again.

Brown Spots. We dived into the forest searching with our bare footed guide - no sign. Out and in again, and at last, not one but two brown spots turned into two howler monkeys. The hours of searching, our aches and pains and even the rain was all forgotten, while we watched the male and juvenile climb from bough to bough sheltering from the heavy rain drops and watching us. We got our pictures and it had all been worth it, we had seen our first wild primates!

Photo 1132: The Araguatos team (and us) at their temporary field station, La Morena, a farm famous for hiding a notorious guerrilla chief in the 1930’s.

Photo 1093:The heat is so intense it gives the sky an overcast look.  The study sites are in the forests in hidden gullies

Photo 1099: While waiting, researchers check equipment that monitors temperature and humidity at monkey level in the canopy

Photo 1110: Nan waiting to hear the call of Howler Monkeys with Carlos and Melena.

Photo 1117: Discarded monkey food, this is one of their favourite fruits.

Photo 1113: Jens tries real jungle juice (from a cut vine).

Photo 1114: If you cut a vine and the sap is white – you can’t drink it

Photo 1128: Fernando, project leader, insists on using traditional building techniques for their field station.

18th - 22nd June 2001

a) SantaFe Zoo, Medellin. 
This public society owned zoo, has had many problems in the past but its team of dedicated staff and board members are working hard to turn the place round and the building of a new walk through aviary will be the start of this process.
They hope to start working more with other Colombian zoos and are looking for help producing a management plan and joining ISIS, to register their important collection of animals.

b) Wildlife Hospital And Rescue Centre 
The zoo runs and supports it's own wildlife hospital and rescue centre, but over the last year it has been unable to take all the animals that the authorities seize in the area as they had run out of holding space and money to maintain them.

No more room at the hospital. Now they only take primates and confiscated birds, that can be rehabilitated and released easily. By specialising they hope to be able to provide a more effective service and to develop a rehabilitation site for certain species in a nature reserve newly donated to their sister foundation - "Ecolombia"

Hope to specialise in primates. The centre hopes to specialise in the rehabilitation of confiscated primates, however it's a hard task when traders take the babies from their parents at such an early age. The hospital has 3 groups of Howler monkeys at different ages and stages of development.

A labour of love. Carlos Maclean, chairman of the board of the zoo and director of "Ecolombia" showed us around, it was then that it became evident why he puts so much of his own time and money into this project, because it's personal.

Part of the family. Many of the young howlers we met had been hand reared by he and his wife after being received by the hospital, only weeks old. It's a heart breaking job but all the staff are driven to do everything they can to try and improve the lives and welfare of these animals - La Pintada is a long awaited dream come true and will mark an important development in working with and understanding the rehabilitation process for primates

c) Ecolombia's Rehabilitation Site And Reforestation Initiative At La Pintada

La Pintada is a well-known country town 2 hours drive out of Medellin. This is cowboy country, but the government have decided to wind down the activities of their cattle ranch and training farm and donate some of the newly abandoned land to "Ecolombia".

Setting up camp. They have to renovate 2 farm houses, and reforest 45 ha, but with a grant to cover some of the start up costs and proceeds from souvenirs made in the local community, they hope to be able to establish this site as an important research, rehabilitation and release site for several primate species and a breeding centre for one of the countries most endangered endemic birds, Crax alberti, the Blue knobbed Guan.  
Over the next 10 years Carlos Maclean, director of Ecolombia, hopes the site will expand from 85ha to 250ha through reforestation and the corridor planting by local farmers.

Our view of the site. We visited the site to get a picture of it's potential and a glimpse of a confiscated Monkey's dream world. The drive was long, bumpy but peppered with interesting land marks, abandoned drug baron's estates, our first look at a small coffee plantation (an industry which supports up to half a million Colombian families), a bull fighting ring and a young lad on horse back driving some potential contestants down the road.
Monkey friendly fences. Carlos also showed us an environmentally friendly fencing system he hopes to promote to local farmers, to help form habitat corridors and extend the potential area for his released animals. By the time we parked at the Government run cattle ranch that adjoins the new reserve, it was very hot - stepping out of the car was like walking in to a wall of heat - Jens and I started to sweat instantly.

Ex-farm worker’s house. First, we inspected the two houses, which workers were to begin renovating the following week. They were of a traditional design, but have had only a stray dog and cows living in them for the last few years.

Going uphill in the heat. Interspersed with frequent water stops, "ooh lets take a photo here" stops and "I've got an interesting question" stops, we finally crawled our way up through sun baked grass meadows to the edge of the remaining forest. Here we started to picture where the rehabilitation and release areas could be placed.

A potential Monkey heaven. Carlos hopes to use electric fencing to form huge enclosures in which to start work with the monkeys. This equipment, along with several radio collars are urgently needed by the project to enable them to get started and ensure the releases can be monitored and as much learnt as possible about this difficult process.

Can you help? If so contact us now for more details and look out for products made by “La Pintada community members” in your local zoo shop.

Photo 1228: Most of the zoo animals are confiscates from the illegal wildlife trade.

Photo 1195: This 4 month old squirrel monkey's, mother died from the ordeal of being taken from the wild.

Photo 1192: Cages everywhere but but there was more before they started turning some animals away.

Photo 1222:  Carlos has hand reared and saved the lives of many howlers

Photo 1164: This 4yr old male gave us a wild performance in response to the bearded visitor – Jens.

Photo 1248: Carlos points out the land they have been donated and where the reforestation will take place. 

Photo 1353: La Pintada, a possible important breeding site for the endemic, Blue knobbed Guan.

Photo 1280: Carlos with some of the staff and community members that will be working to develop La Pintada
.
Photo 1238: Monkey friendly fencing, forms corridors, food sources and a sustainable source of firewood for farmers.

Photo 1265: House 2, needs work to become home tor a vet, researchers, caretaker and students

Photo 1273: A potential Monkey heaven. The steep slopes of La Pintada, are what have helped protect its dry forest.

Project 6: Project UNAU - Sloth Rescue Centre www.sentir.org

Linking up with La Pintada. Ecolombia also hopes to open the La Pintada site up for the rehabilitation and release of the 3 toed sloth, Bradypus variegatus, which are received and lovingly restored to health by a local dedicated husband and wife team, Sergio and Tinka.

A jungle on their doorstep. The two-toed sloth, Choloepus hoffmanni (the species they most commonly receive as confiscates from the local authorities), are able to be released into a protected area of a 100 ha adjoining their rescue centre. They have set up their own foundation and along with a committee they are also working to develop educational materials for the web and for distribution in communities, where sloths are being extracted.

You can help too… If you would like to support the rehabilitation of sloths, please: Check out their website www.sentir.org  and/ or Contact us for details of how to get more involved

Photo 1287: This three-toed sloth, may one day be released at La Pintada through collaboration with Ecolombia.

Project 7: a) Cali Zoo and zoo related in-situ projects, 
b) Local nature reserve and c) Private Rescue Centre

June 2001

a) Cali Zoo and zoo related in-situ projects .
A world class zoo. Cali zoo is a world class zoological facility, which provides a high standard of education for it’s visitors and runs important outreach services for it’s local communities. This is especially important to those, who due to guerrilla activity, are too afraid to travel to the zoo. 

Leading Condor Breeding Centre. It has lead the way in breeding many of Colombia’s most endangered species, including Andean condor, pacarama, several species of guan and giant otters. The zoos Andean condor breeding programme has led the way in breeding techniques for condor and many of the young the zoo have raised have been re-released as part of a National programme. 

A behind the scenes tour. We were given a tour of the zoo exhibits, interactive anthill education auditorium, wildlife hospital and off show breeding areas by the Zoo’s Biologist, German Corredor.  Cali zoo only takes animals they can house well in the zoo and/or which could contribute to important breeding programmes.

Highlights were: We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Cali zoo, with highlights for us including:

The zoo needs: German is also working hard to develop the in-situ research about locally endangered species carried out by the zoo in the local area, while at the same time developing captive husbandry techniques and guidelines for these species.  German believes that conservation should begin at home and hopes to forge closer links with other Colombian zoos to develop breeding programmes for the countries most endangered and charismatic species.  The zoo needs urgent help in both of these areas and looks forward to obtaining advise and support from the European Zoo community.

Photo 1334: Some of the dedicated zoo staff we met.

Photo 1336:Young jaguarondi(Herpailurus yaguarondi) and Photo 1337:
9 banded armadillos(Dasypus novemcinctus) in the zoo’s wildlife hospital.

Photo 1412:  These Giant model ants are scurrying round an auditorium.

Photo 1362: Athletic tamarins on their wooded island.

Photo 1366: A free ranging iguana sat with attitude.

Photo 1359: Traditionally constructed building makes a great reptile house.

Photo1342: Pacarama (Dinomys branickii) +
Photo 1345: Cauca guan (Penelope perspicax) are  benefitting from the research and breeding programmes.

b) Surrounding Nature Reserves

The Cauca valley, which houses the city of Cali, was once a huge tropical swamp.  The drained valley is now the sugar capital of the country and huge fields of sugar cane now grow were biodiversity once reined. German from Cali zoo took us to visit the last remaining “laguna” (lake) in the area and see some of over 150 species of birds for which it is a haven. 

Cali zoo has been working with reserve wardens in surveying a species of turtle of which little is known of it’s ecology, genetics or status. 

Our experiences. The heat was suffocating as we stopped in the tiny village of wooden huts to pick up our eleven-year-old wildlife guide.  But once we started to follow him along the embankment that led to the swampy lake we began to acclimatise and forget the burning sun on our backs.  We were entertained by dancing butterflies, tailed by a nosy cow and finally awestruck by the fantastic array of waterfowl cluttering the lake and it’s marshy shores.  When we reached the 3 story watch tower parked in between 2 patches of Laguna, we each fell into silent contemplation as we let the sounds of the place wash over us. 

Sounds of home. To me the plaintive calls of the various birds transported me home the mud flats of the river Wyre where I grew up – but when I opened my eyes the tropical view was totally incongruous with my mental picture.  Nevertheless the same feeling of serenity and calm infected us all as we reluctantly trudged back to the car. 

A special sort of education. It was a magical place and although I was saddened to learn that our young guide didn’t attend school, I couldn’t help wonder if the education he was receiving out there by the lake wasn’t just as important and that he had already proved himself to be an excellent student, having learnt everything he could about the place and it’s inhabitants.

The empty cloud forest. After the laguna we drove up into the hills to a Cloud forest reserve, another research site for the local university and Cali zoo.  We got there late and failed to spot much in the forest however as we returned to the campsite where the car was parked, we were delighted to watch a flock of rare parrots and a mountain toucan fly over, on their way back to their roost sites. 

Cali zoo is working hard with local environmental authorities in education and research, to help conserve their surrounding ecosystems.

Photo 1415: View of freshwater nature reserve, fast becoming clogged up with an introduced species of African water hyacinth

Photo 1417: If the wild population of capybara was able survive against the poachers, it may well be able to keep the African waterweed to a manageable level.

Photo 1416: The nature reserves bird watching tower shimmering in the midday heat

Photo 1426: Spooky looking trees draped in a long hairy lichen.

Photo 1431: Our Guide, at 11 years of age he has given up on school but knows every one of the 150 species living on the Laguna.

Photo 1437: We weren’t lucky spotting any wildlife in the Cloud forest, apart from a very shy Nan.

c) Private Rescue Centre

Wildlife Rescue – a complex issue. To help us truly understand the complex issues and the extent of the problems surrounding wildlife rescue centres our advisor Ivan Lozano took us to visit one in Cali that he is currently working with.  It was a harrowing experience as the extent of the illegal trade in wild animals and the levels of animal welfare became more apparent.  Some of the animals had been very badly treated and as a result were mentally or physically disabled. 

A labour of love. The centre is owned and run by a generous benefactors Ana Julia and George Beltran, who have certainly improved the standard of living for the animals they take in.  Now the centre is virtually full and a way to work with other centres and zoos needs to be established to continue to do the best by the individual animals and the endangered species they represent. 

A cruel world – some welfare horror stories. It’s not just small, cute and or native animals that are being traded, the centre has also rescued lions and black bears that had been given as pets, and tigers and an elephant confiscated from circuses.  The centre provides shelter for every sort of animal often saving them from extreme abuse, which in the case of the street horses can be relentless and brutal.  Many of the animals don’t survive their ordeal or are re-seized by their owners.  It is sometimes a frustrating battle for the staff and volunteers of the centre, but one they are dedicated and determined to continue with.

A National Plan is needed to support such centre in the future

Such centres could play a vital role in the education of public and the conservation of endangered species, but with out further funding and centralised coordination of standards their futures may be bleak. One of the spider monkeys had received routine beatings by its owners, which had left it blind in one eye, with disfigured limbs and mentally traumatised.  Now at least the abuse is over but too traumatised to go into an enclosure and too disabled to climb, she is left to roam free in the centre.

Photo 1463: Now, this clean and cheery rescue centre in Cali is nearly full, it is facing some difficult decisions.

Photo 1448: Some animals had been subject to unimaginable conditions before being rescued by the centre.  Spider monkey

Photo 1449: Now blind, disabled and traumatised this spider monkey is able to live out its last days in the safety and calm of the centre.

Photo 1451: This bear cub had been given as pet!

Photo 1458: Circus animals receive protection here 1456 too, tigers and one elephant are just some examples.

Project 8: Fundacion RenaSer - National Condor Conservation Programme

26^th –27^th June 2001

The Foundation. Fundacion RenaSer is one of Colombia’s oldest and best established conservation organisations.  They started 12years ago by raising the environmental awareness of the nations youth with several wildlife and conservation focused sticker book campaigns and now manage and drive forward one of Colombia’s greatest wildlife success stories – the re-release and conservation of the Andean Condor.  We met with the foundation to discuss ways in which European zoos could help them continue their groundbreaking work. 

Education First. The organisation has always put education at the heart of it’s approach to conservation and along with their willingness to work with local communities as well as science and conservation professionals they have produced a very successful and holistic project. 

A good job done. At first glance their work is done, the populations appear to be stable and the species is no longer critically endangered in Colombia, however RenaSer believe now is not the time to sit back. 

But there is more to do. Little is known of the genetics of the population and how it is or has been effected by the re-releases, furthermore a programme of satellite tracking of some birds is extremely urgent to monitor more accurately their behaviour and particularly their range. 

More than just Condor Conservation - a habitat approach Also RenaSer now want to extend the conservation techniques they have developed to help preserve the other species with which the condor shares it’s unique ecosystem.  Many of these species are fairly unknown to science and include: the Andean bear, the puma, the mountain (or woolly) tapir, many species of smaller bird, including several hummingbirds and eagle, rabbit deer, mountain coati and unusual rodents such as the mountain paca.  Many of the species are not represented in captive populations anywhere in the world. 

Giving communities alternatives. One technique RenaSer want to develop is supporting indigenous communities to maintain their traditional (condor friendly) way of life by finding a market for their traditional handicrafts –you too can help - look out for these products in zoo shops!

Our experience of Condor Spotting and it’s habitat. The Andean forest and high paramo are unique Andean habitats, into which we went in search of the condor, a bird steeped in myth, tradition and legend.  However the area we picked was covered in cloud and drenched by rain so we saw no sign of the infamous bird, which have more sense to sore off to cleared dryer areas where they can more easily spot a meal.  

All was not lost however, as we were excited to discover the crazy plants that characterise this habitat and are the favourite food source for the other famous and endangered inhabitant of this region – the Andean or Spectacled Bear (Tremarctos ornatus).  

We went up to our knees in wet bogs, spotted hummingbirds, deer droppings and a wasps nest too – all in all a very fascinating trip.  This habitat and its inhabitants are however highly endangered, now increasingly at risk from slash and burn farming and the local environmental and climatic changes that result.

Photo 1500: The RenaSer team meet Zoos Go Wild.

Photo 1497: Elizabeth Grijalba de Rodado, Director General of RenaSer showing us their spectacular environmentally educational children’s sticker book.

Photo 1515: Condor home (in the rain), by educating people to care for the condor’s home they also help protect the other species that share its habitat.

Photo 1518: A wet and weary bunch of Condor spotters, with the “Condor Man” Orlando Feliciano Caceres (middle right), - vet and Technical Coordinator for the Condor programme.

 Photo 1507: The favourite food of the Andean bear  (the “Puya” {Puya trianae}) 1509 and evidence of bear activity – a big pile of it’s prickly leaves – bears only like the soft central stem!

Photo 1524: Population growth and break down of traditional large farms has lead to increased colonisation of this beautiful, arduous but extremely sensitive environment.

Project 9: Oceanarium - Isla de Rosario – Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Projects

September 2001

After the conference many of us took the one-hour boat ride from Cartagena to visit the Rosario Islands.  We however were privileged to have received an invite to stay longer and discover more of the delights, problems and solutions these coral islands and their communities hold.

A generous invitation – turns into a new project. Our invite came from the charismatic owner of the oceanarium (Rafael) on St Martin Island, which to us was the jewel in the crown of the Rosario Islands. It would be an affront to call this place an aquarium as it hosts no building where ocean scenes are re-created, only huge open pools actually in the ocean.  This ingenious way of presenting local sea life was founded 15 years ago by Rafael E. Vieira O, who after living for 3 years on the island with out returning to the mainland, made this place, the sea his life and protecting them his devotion.

A dedicated team. Now he has a dedicated team working with him and together they have formed a foundation called The Centre for Research, Education and Recreation, through which their work extends far into the islands, communities and ocean that surrounds them.  The team of 24 staff and visiting researchers share this tiny coral island with the oceanarium, it’s marine museum, a research lab and breeding areas for several species of aquatic life, including mangrove trees, Conch shellfish and marine turtles. 

What the oceanarium shows. The oceanarium displays local species of shark, rays, open water fish, groupers, hawksbill turtles, dolphins and some resident pelicans, heron, ibis and alcatraz.  Educational talks, presentations and feeding displays help make the oceanarium an import place for educating the 1000’s of visitors it receives, about the wonders and importance of coral reef and ocean ecosystems. 

Close encounters of the watery kind. We got chance to get closer than most to many of the island’s inhabitants – as we walked with nurse sharks, fed and played with the dolphins and swam with turtles and other big stuff in the huge open water pool.

Dolphins - A stimulating display. The dolphin we feel need a separate mention, as it was a special privilege to be allowed so close to them. As it is obvious from the pictures, these animals could jump out of their enclosure anytime they liked and that their participation in the twice-daily educational displays, training sessions and indeed just their presence in the pool with us was their choice. 

Swimming with dolphins – our impression. We felt none of the legendary heeling power of the dolphins only a little trepidation as we entered their pool after being told “they particularly like nibbling toes – but don’t worry just relax and don’t try to pull your feet away if they take hold!”  We grew more relaxed as time went on – but the feeling you were in their domain and that if you swam in the “wrong tone of voice”, it might be necessary to beet a hasty retreat, never completely left us.

The dolphins showed nothing but curiosity + kindness.... in letting us into their pool and what we learned from the experience is that they are darn big, darn fast, darn smart animals that deserve the up most respect particularly, since they chose not to use their obvious power over us when you are on their turf.  If only all humans were so generous and accepting of them.

The projects:

1. Hawksbill Turtle Protection Programme: Protective rearing of eggs and young translocated from local beaches, tagging and re-release of around 150 yearlings annually, with local school and community involvement.  Agreement with local fishermen to return any turtles caught in nets.

2. Eco-tourism project: To turn young lobster catchers into eco-guides – giving them a way of supporting their families with out devastating the marine life.  This is especially important for lobster fishermen as their diving skills are legendary but so too are their abilities to find and remove lobster. With the price falling all the time for this meat, which at least locally is not such a treat, the fishermen have to take more and more, smaller and smaller ones to make a living.  You could say it’s a rather “shellfish” way of life.                              

3. Community work: This project also involves working with local communities and schools trying to assist them to develop more sustainable strategies to island life – in general.  The project hopes to link the local school with a school in a fishing community in Europe so they can exchange experiences and knowledge about their environments.  Could that be your school? Let us know if you are interested.

4. Conch breeding programme: A highly technical process in rearing these alien like creatures.  It is hoped that the technology that they develop can be used to help restock areas where this conch is now extinct and to develop sustainable production and use of this creature for food and artisan materials.

5. Deep Sea Fishing buoys: An ingenious way of providing a sustainable and easy fishing alternative to dynamite fishing and other unsustainable techniques.  The idea is based on providing an open water oasis for algae to grow on incredibly long lines and huge floating buoys anchored to the seabed. Once algae start to grow on the rope and buoy, other smaller fish gather to make use of this limited food sources and then the bigger fish move in to eat the smaller ones.  In this way it is believed to be possible to harvest several tones of fish from one line every 20 days.

How you can help...The oceanarium need financial and technical support in developing all of these projects 
– if you feel you can help please contact us.

Photos 2716 + 2577: The incredibly life-like models that decorate the oceanarium are all made from fiberglass casts of real fish!

Photo 2656: This and the other Educational demonstrations at the oceanarium, help to raise visitor’s awareness about these incredible animals.

Photo 2539: Walking in the nurse shark pool was an act of complete faith – luckily we still have our toes.

Photo 2657: The dolphins came from the wild and could go back any time they liked – but they choose to stay.

Photo 2546: Jens had to keep Stephanie’s fish coming quickly so all 5 dolphins finish feeding at the same time.

Photo 2566: Luna is a beautiful young dolphin – which always keeps a watchful eye on you, in or out of the water.

Photo 2667: The hawksbill turtle is endangered all over the world – here at least they find refuge.

Photo 2715: Once lobster divers, young men from the village now act as eco-guides in the national park.

Photo 2708: Rubbish recycling schemes are one way the village women are acting to protect their island.

Photo 2680:  “The Aliens” film must have been modelled on these critters – beauty is definitely only shell deep.

Photo 2580: Fishing far away from these delicate coral islands will help protect what remains of the ecosystem.

Project 10: Casa Loma Nature Reserve 
– Habitat restoration, corridor building + sustainability

September 2001

The project. The managers of “Casa Loma natural reserve”, Diego and Maria-Paula Silva, have for 3 years been developing imaginative and sustainable alternatives to current local destructive farming practices.  Their work aims to protect local watersheds, provide a wildlife corridor in between the Sierra Nevada and Caribbean coastal National reserves, whilst also developing sustainable, wildlife friendly, native forest cash crops for local farmers.

The reserve is split into 3 areas. They have developed 3 distinct areas of productivity in their 250ha private reserve, the experiences and techniques of which they are sharing with the local community as well as supplying founder plants from their own native seed and tree nursery.

The 3 areas are as follows:

1. Areas along river banks should be reforested to protect the water shed and add to the wildlife corridor,

2. Set aside areas of remaining natural vegetation and or regenerated areas are planted with important wildlife food species to form the corridor,

3. Converting of pasture and other farm land to plantations of native hard wood and other valuable trees. Other fast growing crops (eg. tomatoes, chillies, heliconia flowers and/or a very low density of cows) can be planted in between the growing trees to sustain the family while the plantation matures.  If each farm plants 1000 cash trees, they can after, 15 years, sustain their families by selling one tree each month (for $600) and replanting at the same time.

Developing a farming cooperative. The Foundation is also working on developing a farming cooperative in the area and researching and setting up better markets for the short term crops, involving organic certification for food stuffs and export markets for the flowers and eventually the lumber too.  They also hope to develop eco-tourism nature trails to visit the several stunning waterfalls the river hosts.

Species that are protected by this work are: Jaguar (Panthera onca), Lowland tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the endemic cracid (Crax alberti), armadillo, coati and endemic species of amphibian and reptile.

Sustainable alternatives to Coca farming. This is an exciting project, offers practical and sustainable alternatives to a community that has been forced into the illegal farming of coca, by the poor prices for legitimate crops and a lack of alternatives.  Helping this project not only supports the flora, fauna and communities of this area, but also will contribute to the downfall of the cultivation of a drug, which is at the route of many of Colombia’s problems and is the scourge of other countries all over the world.

Urgent help is required – you can make a difference. There is an extra urgency to this project’s plight as, if alternatives are not found to coca plantations, when “Plan Colombia’s” fumigation policy moves to this region, an even bigger wildlife and humanitarian disaster will ensue.

Photo 2631: Maria Paula takes the sweet chillies they have grown organically, between the trees, to market.

Photo 2621: In the tree nursery Diego shows us some native mahogany yearlings.  He will give these to local farmers so they can start to plan for their future.

Photo 2615: Bananas grow happily between the 5 year old hardwood trees – giving Diego a crop he can harvest now.

Photo 2629 A native coca plant – this man’s neighbours now cultivate its artificially developed illegal cousin – which is used to make Cocaine.

Project 11: Proyecto Titi - Research & community conservation project for Cotton Top Tamarin

September 2001

A classic project. We were delighted to be able to get behind the scenes on one of Colombia’s most well know and well established species conservation projects, which Dr. Anne Savage from Disney’s Wildlife Kingdom has been instrumental in developing and funding.  
The Cotton Top Tamarin is endemic to this area of Colombia’s coastal dry forest and is critically endangered due to habitat destruction and the pet trade.  “Titi” is the local name for this charismatic little primate and it was a delight to come across the little critters with in 5 minutes of walking into the projects 300ha forest study site. 

The study site. The 5 groups of Titis at the study site are wild animals that have got so used to researchers (Miguel, Luis and Felix) hanging around over the past year, that now they ignore them and carry on with their normal business. Another reason they are so easy to find is that the dominant male of each group has been fitted with a tiny radio transmitter jacket and each tamarin has different paint markings on it’s lower legs and tail so they are easily distinguishable for the researchers. 

Video man’s dream. We were able to capture on video the warning calls of two groups who came unusually close to each other, grooming and resting behaviour, feeding on forest fruits and tree gums and even their toilet habits and motions.  The latter was not the most exciting part of our day but of great importance to the researchers, who at the moment are trying to establish which tree species are most important to the titi and exactly what nutritional value they gain from each. 

15 years of research experience. The project has worked with two other groups of tamarins and communities over the last 15 years – but was unfortunately moved on by the guerrilla activity in those areas.  Now firmly established in a safe area the project is set to continue to develop it’s high standard of research, of which their bi-annual trapping programme of each titi group is an important part.  We saw how easy and stress free this manoeuvre might be, as they followed us to the traps even when there wasn’t any food there.  Trapping the titis enables researchers to do health checks, maintenance on the radio tags, a repaint job on their tails and to take blood and hair samples for important parasite and genetics studies.

Integrating Research with Education. The success of this project in our eyes is not just its excellent research programme but also its in depth work with local communities and schools in educating about the plight of the titi and developing sustainable solutions to the current habitat destruction. 

Productive links with Barranquilla Zoo. It is in this education programme that “Proyecto Titi” works hand in hand with Barranquilla Zoo, who through their exhibit design and signage at the zoo helps to educate their 300,000 annual visitors. Barranquilla city is the nearest urban population to the titis and is also where most of the tamarins are illegally sold as pets.  The zoo hope to establish annual educational media campaigns to contribute to the work of “Proyecto Titi”, and ask for your support in doing this.

Community Work needs support too. Help is also needed to support the intensive work that Constanza le Rotta, the projects education officer, does in the communities that live with the wild titis.

Here are the projects that the community presented to us and towards which your support is needed:

Technical and financial support: 
In establishing an organic farming and reforestation demonstration site with a local Agricultural college.  They have the land but need urgent advice on ground water extraction and irrigation techniques to get the project moving.  This work will influence the training of the next generation of local farmers.

Money and markets are needed to help establish several micro businesses: In the communities that have the most impact on the remaining dry forest habitat and its inhabitants. As we see time and time again – habitat destruction are not the choice of the people, they are driven to it in their efforts to survive with out information or access to other alternatives – the following list of alternatives were developed by The Colorado community’s eco-group under the guidance of Constanza and only need a little help from you to make them a reality – a cheap way to conserve 800 ha of forest.

1. The first project has already been started – the production and use of a clay cooking stands (called a binde) that increase the efficiency of cooking with wood and therefore reduces the amount of firewood that needs to be taken from the forest. They are also researching other more sustainable fuel materials.

2. A medicinal plant nursery – where important medicinal plants can be cultivated for reforestation, for community health and for processing into products that can be sold externally. A method for ensuring important traditional knowledge is not lost to future generations.

3. A native tree and fruit nursery – for reforestation and restoration of original titi habitat.  These would include native species that provide materials and fruits that the community could use for food or to make handicrafts and food products for sale elsewhere.

4. A clean up campaign for the village, which includes, a recycling scheme, establishing wormaries and composts and installation of composting toilets.

Please contact us if you would like to support the work of this excellent project

Photo 2637: The team and the transmitter that helped us to find the tamarins in the forest behind.

Photo 2635: A wild titi – can you spot it?

Photo 2641: A precious faecal sample – this female had been eating wild berries.

Photo 2640: In the following week the trapping was to begin – so Felix checks every thing is working fine.

Photo 2609: A busy pair of cotton top tamarins at Barranquilla Zoo.

Photo 2591: Excellent interactive signage helps inform the visitors about titis.

Photo 2644:  Jose Wardo, teacher at the local Agricultural college shows us where he intends to start his demonstration organic farm.

Photo 2624: A “binde” in use – reduces cooking time and amount of fuel needed.

Photo 2624: This community hope to start a tree nursery like this one at Casa Loma.

Photo 2646: The Colorado Community Eco-group and us.

Project 12: Bucaramanga zoologist group 
- native bee + edible ant projects + New National Park

September 2001

Zoological Foundation of Santander. We thoroughly enjoyed our six days of racing about the nooks and crannies of Santander, the regional department of which Bucaramanga is the capital city.  This is a incredible place, with a range of habitats that you would be surprised to find across a whole country – not in just one county. It’s also the home of the Colombian spirit of revolution and a group of young biologists, whom are set to cause a stir with some innovative conservation ideas. 

Work with local government will see the areas first wildlife rescue centre

The fauna team of the local governmental environment cooperation are in the process of building the areas first rescue and rehabilitation centre for confiscated wild animals with the help of WSPA.  However, they know that while this centre is essential to wildlife conservation – it will not tackle the root of the problem or offer long-term solutions to habitat destruction. 

So a team of local biologist have formed a foundation (with the blessing of the cooperation) to address those core issues – here are the 4 projects they intend to start with:

1. Biodiversity survey and community project: To convert hunters to Eco-guides in areas that will eventually form a biological corridor from lowland tropical forest to high Andean paramo grasslands. Key species are the Spectacled Bear  (Trermactos ornatus), Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus), Deer (American mazama), Mountain Toucan (Andigena nigrirostris), Carpenter (Campephilus pollens), endemic amphibians, reptiles and insects and also includes captive breeding programme for the endangered Mountain paca (Agouti taczanowskii) from the paramo.

2. Biodiversity survey of the previously un-described “Chicamocha canyon”, which according to Colombia’s leading biologist – could be the site of important endemism, as it is such an isolated and thus unique habitat.

Projects 3 and 4 offer some imaginative alternatives to local communities living in both of the study areas above.

3. Cultivation of endemic species of fruit plants important to habitat reforestation and restoration in association with the sustainable cultivation of local endemic species of sting-less bees. The honey from which could be an important alternative income, as it is highly sort after for it’s medicinal properties and distinctive flavours.  At the moment these species and the plants they feed from and pollinate have been devastated by habitat destruction and use of pesticides to maintain monoculture crops like pineapples.

4. Re-initiating the traditional + sustainable practices of harvesting edible ants  At £5/lb wholesale, these tasty flying queens offer a quick cash prize to passing farmers when they leave their colonies in their droves, one to two times a year.  But in an effort to supply this curious local delicacy all year round, country communities have taken to ransacking nests, fumigating and other strategies of artificially stimulating them to fly – methods that will in the end lead to the wipe out of this intriguing social insect. Whereas sustainable harvesting, along with habitat restoration programmes could help this bacon flavoured delight become an important sustainable alternative.

Can you help?  
Please contact us if you would like to support the ground breaking work of these young professionals

Photo 2723: The “table” between rainforest and paramo where the city lies.

Photo 2857: Elkin, Rances, Andrecito + us in a natural bromeliad garden with a view from jungle to Paramo behind

Photo 2836: Andracito, hunter turned eco-guide shows some of the contents of his jungle Pharmacy.  His mozzey repellent worked!

Photo 2865: The group work with local school children to help them learn and appreciate their forest.

Photo 2896: Mountain Paca – part of a captive breeding programme

Photo 2803: Canon del Chicamocha

Photo 2792: Goat farming is the biggest problem, as they eat the biodiversity before it can be studied.

Photo 2726: Andres prefects  native stingless bee husbandry.

Photo 2736: The honey has a citrus flavour from the fruit trees it pollinates.

Photo 2913: 
10 year old ant hills like this one only survive in set-a-side land.

Photo 2902: Whats cookin’? Queen ants!

Photo 2910: 2 ants in the hand are better than a 1000 in the ground!

The zoo on the edge of the jungle. We visited the town’s infamous Zoo, on the edge of Leticia’s airstrip, which holds a unique collection of Amazonian animals.  The enclosures are very small and the whole site run down, so we were delighted to find out a team of zoo and conservation professionals are trying to take over the zoo and relocate the animals to a new and improved site.  Strategically this is a very important location for an Amazon dedicated zoo and botanical garden, both for visiting tourists but more importantly in educating the local people about the wealth of wildlife on their doorstep – before it is too late. 

Making a conservation centre. There is a wealth of experts in the area who have the potential and vision to turn this important collection of animals in to a new generation of “conservation centre”, focused on rescue, rehabilitation, research (in and ex-situ) and perhaps most importantly conservation through education. 

Project 14: Fundacion OMACHA 
– River dolphins and manatee.

October 2001

The aims: The Fundacion Omacha is a non profit, non governmental organisation created to study, research, protect and manage aquatic animals in relation to their physical and cultural environment. 

The Foundation: Fundacion Omacha was founded 15 years ago by dedicated Marine biologist Fernando Trujillo. Together with his wife Maria-Claudia, they now continue to develop this innovative foundation, which now has projects in the Colombian Amazon, Orinoco and Caribbean coast. They concentrate on research about aquatic mammals in Colombia, which they then apply to implementing effective conservation measures through community work, education and training. They also collaborate with specialists from all round the world and try to raise international and political awareness about the plight of aquatic mammals.  We met them at the international conference in Cartagena, where they were doing just that.

Photo Bogota 2965: OMACHA’s founder, Fernando Trujillo, with a traditional Amazon figure - half man-half dolphin.

a) Amazon Aquatic mammal research + conservation

October 2001

Amazon beginnings. The foundation started it’s work in the Amazon, where they now have a wonderful field station and 3 full time staff as well as between 2 and 3 research students at any one time. They have a well-established relationship with the local community and fishermen, through meetings and a programme of education workshops in the schools and college. 

Their work in the Amazon focuses on the following threatened species:                  

River dolphins. When Omacha started their river dolphin work they discovered that the major threats were illegal fishing with monofilament nets across tributaries, being used as target practice by military and opportunistic hunting for their meat and/or certain body parts for medicines and aphrodisiacs. As a result of their work with communities, fishermen and military in this area of the Amazon, the number of dead dolphins found or reported each year is now less than one, compared to over 8 per year, when they first arrived. 

Manatee. Being injured by boat propellers, loss of habitat through increasing hi-intensity rice farming and opportunistic hunting are just some of the threats that manatees now face in the wild. It is incredibly difficult to study these creatures in the wild due to their elusive behaviour in the brown water and thick vegetation they inhabit.

Rehabilitation of Manatee. The team have for the last couple of years being rehabilitating an orphaned manatee called “Ariawe”, he is just about ready to be released in to a lagoon on a protected island and urgent funds are needed for the translocation procedure, an associated community education programme and the follow up and evaluation research. 

The local communities involvement in Ariawe’s rehabilitation and a revival and celebration of their traditional myths and legends that feature Manatee, has led to a better understanding of this elusive creature.  This change in attitude has now opened the door for the community to consider ways they can help to protect the species in the future. 

Current threats

The problems now facing all the aquatic mammals of the Amazon are habitat destruction, pollution from gold mining and oil spills and potentially, disturbance from increased river traffic and eco-tourism. All threats requiring more investigation and community work by the dedicated professionals of Fundacion Omacha, before solutions can be found and put into practice.

Future Solutions: You can help too! 
Omacha are investigating many ways the local communities can live in harmony with their environment, while still being able to support their families.  We went to visit one community that is reviving and developing their traditional handicrafts.  Their work was stunning – especially the woodwork which managed to incorporate many of the myths and legends in their culture about dolphin and manatee.  We hope that the European zoos and their visitors will be interested in supporting this community by buying their craftwork.  Another way of helping would be to join their “adopt a dolphin” scheme – which is administrated by the “International Whale and Dolphin Society.

If you would like to support this and the other invaluable work of Omacha please contact us for more details.

Our experiences:

Dolphin watching. We stayed at their field station and accompanied the team on their data collection trips, where we were rewarded with our first sightings of both species of river dolphin. At one location we even managed to capture on video, a courtship display, that we were told had not often been observed.  We soon found out however that dolphin research was not as romantic as one might imagine, after 4 hours of sitting on a baking hot sand bank looking for any signs of dolphins in a wide expanse of glaring water, we were glad to head back to base for a cold shower, a lie down and a chance to count our mosquito bites.  Well actually the sand was too hot for our European temperaments, so we sat in the river for 4 hours, which was actually quite pleasant – apart from the sunburn after. 

Caiman spotting and flying fish. That night Jose (guide and boat man, who is native to the Amazon), took us caiman spotting.  The river takes on completely different sites and sounds at night; not least interesting was Jose’s caiman call.  It took us a while to perfect our caiman lunge – but after 2 hours Jose managed to grab one for us to have a closer look at.  It was a black caiman, which can grow to between 4 and 6m long – if they are left to live long enough *1 before being illegally made into shoes!  On our way back to the field station, the river appeared to be boiling with fish as they leaped out of the water all over the place, 5 actually landed in the boat (3 on my lap) and were taken home for supper for Jose’s family.  Easiest fishing we’ve ever done!

Amazon storms. The night sky was fitful too; we were transfixed by the light show of a distant rainstorm that was moving closer.  Thankfully Jose got us safely back to the field station before it hit. Our first experience of actually being in a tropical rainstorm was awesome.  The downpour pounding the tin roof above created a welcome cool breeze which we hadn’t felt since we left the highlands. The dramatic flashes of lightening lit up the surroundings exaggerating the greens of the jungle and the violent claps of thunder sounded like the heavens were really cheesed off about something. 

Our encounters Manatee
Lagoon luxury. Airawe was very shy the day we went to see him in his small private lagoon at the back of the field station.  It was over cast and in such conditions he prefers to sleep on the bottom, only permitting us to get a quick look at the end of his nose every 5 – 8 minutes when he came up to breathe.  We were out on the river on all the really sunny days so missed seeing him basking on the surface in full glory.  However we were glad to get the glimpses we did and it helped us to understand why views of live manatee in the wild are so rare. 

The Lonely river cow. In all honesty, however, our fascination with manatee started with a much “closer encounter” in Leticia Zoo, where we met their solitary male.  At the risk of being anthropomorphic, it was hard not to interpret this animal’s behaviour as “lonely and bored” and from the size and construction of the enclosure it was no wonder he took his comfort in “holding hands” with passing visitors. Although it is hard to deny the appeal and impact of being able to get so close, we would have sorely preferred not to see so much of him, and instead that he were languishing in a larger, more natural enclosure like Airawe’s lagoon.  A setting, which would have been far more beneficial to his welfare and more educational to the viewing public.

Photo 3229: The Omacha Amazon Field station team.

Photo 3230: The Omacha field station

Photo 3209: A grey dolphin skull from the Omacha museum.

Photo 3208: A Pink river dolphin skull

Photo 3206:Manatee Skull

Photo crax g.3088: Growing rice on the riverbanks means there is less natural vegetation for the manatee.

Photo 3032: Traditional fishing techniques offer little threat to the aquatic mammals of the Amazon

Photo 3213:Oswaldo, making a figure out of “blood wood” that depicts the tapir transforming from a manatee.

Photo 3217: Preparation of the palm leaves into fibres for making handicrafts.

Photo 3222: A palm fibre purse and the plant root used to give it’s beautiful yellow colour.

Photo 3077: Dolphin spotting is great, getting a good photo is impossible.

Photo 3204: Jose promised us an exciting night caiman spotting – this is how big the adults get.

Photo 3020: The caiman we caught still had some growing up to do.

Photo 3022: These fish were so desperate to be caught they actually jumped into the boat.

Photo 3037: This is all we got to see of Airawe as he came up to breathe.

Photo 2982: Nan’s closer encounter with the solitary male manatee at Leticia Zoo

Photo 2986: He held Jens’ hand between his flippers, waiting for a good belly rub.

b) Aquatic mammal research and conservation in Orinoco

Visit cancelled as we had to come home early. See Presentation Form

Project 15: Proyecto Piuri – The Wattled Curassow Community Conservation Project

October 2001

The mysterious bird and it’s problems. This unique project was set up to try to conserve a population of Wattled Curassow  (Crax globuloso) on one Colombian Island (Isla Mocagua) in the middle of the Amazon river. This turkey sized jungle bird is a relative of domestic fowl, gets it’s English name from the males red bill ornaments. It is mainly threatened due to the hunting of adults, as they unfortunately taste “a lot like chicken”. The “Piuri” as it is called locally, is now an endangered species like many of it’s other close relatives, the Cracids.  It is widely believed that this once common and wide spread Amazon basin species is now only found on this and perhaps one other neighbouring island. 

Isla Mocagua – the moving island. 3 different Colombian communities have rights to Isla Mocoagua, which is also pillaged by Peruvian and Brazilian fishermen and is slowly moving down the river through a process of erosion and depositation. The island is almost completely flooded for one part of the year, when the rains fill up the lakes inside and the great Amazon rises and floods the rest, replenishing the soil with rich silt washed down from the highlands.

How it started. Originally Dr Sara Bennett, came to the area to investigate the claims of the village elders that their still were Wattled Curassow on their island, (when they had been thought extinct every where) and that they were once found in un-characteristically high numbers up to 50 years ago.  Sara thought the investigation might reveal some clues for the conservation of this species and maybe other Cracids in the future.  However, as she learned more about the island and it’s people, she had the foresight to empower the local communities, who impact on this island, to conduct the study with her and together they have developed a exciting new way of getting field research to provide real conservation solutions for the people and wildlife of the island.

How it works. What this actually meant is that 61 members from the three communities (of Mocagua, Macedonia and El Vergel) work in teams to patrol the island for illegal fishing practices and hunters and at the same time make systematic counts of the Piuri.  It has been an extremely successful project and has now lead to the communities working out a conservation plan for the island and sharing their work with Peruvian and Brazilian communities thought also to impact on the island.

What it takes and what it needs. All the work above is covered by $1000 per month – but due to the unique situation of the island, full time paid guards are needed to man the watch towers the communities have built (which could also provide an eco–tourism function) and also provide the co-investigators with equipment such as binoculars, radios, digital camera and a computer to enable them to process the results themselves and communicate their findings with the outside world.  Here is an instance where the technology of the internet could actually provide one of the best ways of allowing these communities to manage the evolution of their traditions and their environments.

Our experiences:

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Local support – The National Park that works with and for the people. Along with the funding that the project receives from “Columbus Zoo” – Amacayacu National Park opposite the island, also gives it’s support in the form of a boat and motor and a place for Sarah to stay.  We were delighted to be offered accommodation there too, in their well equipped tourist lodges and field research centre, where we were over whelmed by the warmth, generosity and dedication of the staff both there and in their office in Leticia – definitely a place worth visiting.  

Furthermore, the unexplored and unspoilt depths of the park and the indigenous communities that live on it’s fringes have already been the source of some exciting projects, a trend which is set to increase in the future.

The bird and the island – dust baths and diversity. There was plenty of evidence of their presence, such as the indentations left in their favourite dust bathing sites, the sound of their distinctive call and we even got a brief glimpse of an adult and juvenile as they flew off into the undergrowth.  However this bird has eventually learned to be weary of humans and so we left without any video footage of it in the wild.  Instead we got to see a chick, which has been adopted by a family in one of the communities.  It now acts as a mascot and provides the project with important information about the growth and development of this illusive species. We thoroughly enjoyed exploring the diverse habitats and wildlife of the island with the best guides around – it’s protectors and owners.

The project – a blue print for the future. We believe that Sara has not only initiated a excellent project that has the potential to find out more and protect the future of the Wattled Curussow, but also that she has been instrumental in developing what could be a blue print for other community based research and conservation projects.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

We highly recommend this project and hope you will help to support these communities to continue their groundbreaking work.

Photo “crax g Logo”:

A pair of the Wattled Curassow or Piuri.

Photo 3161: This side of the Isla Mocoagua is being eroded by the Amazon – the other side is growing towards Peru.

Photo 3169: Sara Bennet with Nomi, the wholly monkey that she rescued and is rehabilitating.

Photo 3130: Sara, some of her co-investigators and us, on a piuri-surveying trip to the island.

Photo 3100: The communities raised the money to build 3 watch huts like this one – now they need raise finance to make sure they are manned all the time.

Photo 3077: The Macedonia community “minga” - having a rest after carrying all these poles, which will eventually make their watchtower.

Photo 3121: We started off doing a workshop with 20 students but after the bell went, the rest of the school joined in too.

Photo 3168: Sara welcomes us to the Amacayacu National Park field centre and tourist lodge.

Photo 3133: Evidence of the Piuri, or at least that the team had been there before.

Photo 3097: Luis from Mocoagua community team, demonstrates how the Pirui dust bathe.

Photo 3146: Adriana helps her family look after this little orphan.

Photo 3225: Stunning Amazon sun set

Visit cancelled as we had to come home early. Contact us for Presentation Form