This year, an entire community that voluntarily decided to participate in the protection of the Giant South-American river turtle, a critically endangered species, will be present during its nesting season. This process, which has been overseen by Proyecto Vida Silvestre for seven years, now has a new perspective: the empowerment of the community of the Santa María de la Virgen village, making this task progressively more autonomous and sustainable.

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Proyecto Vida Silvestre, Omacha, Giant South-American river turtle

The purpose of 33 conservation agreements signed with an equal number of peasant families in Colombia’s Central Range is to make certain habitual production activities of rural life more eco-friendly, especially with the water resources of this Andean region. What does this conservation strategy consist of? We invite you to read this story.

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WCS Colombia, Parques Nacionales de Colombia, Rio Saldaña, Cortolima, agreements

The Alliance for Wildlife and Forests developed a website that includes activities, progress and results in the combat against wildlife and timber trafficking in Colombia, Ecuador, Perú, Bolivia and Brazil.

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Alliance for Wildlife and Forests, wildlife and timber trafficking

An article published in the magazine of the Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales (Academy of Physics, Exact and Natural Sciences), based on the experience of Proyecto Vida Silvestre (PVS) (Project Wildlife), concludes that conservation work with a certain group of important species redounds in the welfare of others.

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Landscape species, Academy of Physics, Exact and Natural Sciences

The project 'Rio Saldaña – Una cuenca de vida' monitors the quality of this vital resource in the Siquila, Amoyá y Cucuana Rivers, to identify the pressures affecting it, take corrective action to strengthen its care and teach communities to preserve it.

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WCS Colombia, , Parques Nacionales de Colombia, Rio Saldaña, Cortolima

This species (Styracura pacifica) had always been reported in Central America, but a study of the Fundación MarViva, Fundación Squalus and WCS shows that its distribution is wider because it includes the Colombian Pacific and possibly Ecuador.

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WCS Colombia, Pacific chupare or Pacific whiptail stingray (Styr, Encanto de los Manglares del Bajo Baudó, Invemar, Fundación Mar Viva, Fundación Squalus

Pest and disease control, seed dispersal, pollination and hundreds of food chains are some of the affected processes when native animals are extracted from their habitats to become pets or to be sold abroad.

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wildlife trafficking, Combatting Wildlife Trafficking Program

The objective is to identify the greatest possible number of specimens through observers distributed in different regions of the country and to calcul...

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Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, WWF, Cóndor andino, Vultur gryphus, Primer Censo Nacional del Cóndor AndinO, Fundación Neotropical, WCS y la Fundación Hidrobiológica George Dahl

60% of the planet’s forest coverage, survival of deforestation, has been impacted or transformed, highly or moderately, by man. The research led...

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WCS, Nature, Universidad de Arizona, bosques, Deforestación, The Nature Conservancy, Padu Franco, integridad ecológica, Raisforest Foundation, Universidad de Queensland, bioma amazónico

The Humboldt Institute, the Regional Environmental Authority of Risaralda (Carder), WCS and National Natural Parks of Colombia, with the support of th...

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WCS Colombia, Instituto Humboldt, Páramos, Corporación Autónoma Regional de Risaralda, Parques Nacionales de Colombia, Parque Nacional Los Nevados Páramos: Biodiversida

Primates, birds, reptiles and other individuals of wild and exotic fauna, victims of wildlife trafficking and other events such as accidents, rescues ...

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WCS Colombia, Unión Europea, URRAS, tráfico de especies, animales silvestres, cautiverio, mascota, Unidad de Rescate y Rehabilitación de Animales Si

The work of Police patrolmen and their dogs, known as canine binomials, is decisive to curb the illegal commerce of species. One of them, for instance, found 3200 turtles that were about to be trafficked from the Leticia airport (Amazon). However, the country has very few of these detection teams, while the crime is progressively more sophisticated.

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Canine binomials, illegal commerce of species, trafficking mafias, Wildlife trafficking

Silvia Restrepo, Vice President for Research and Creation at Universidad de los Andes, talks about the conclusions of the document related with environment and biotechnology that she coordinated.and that formed part of the final text that the International Mission of Wise Men submitted to the Government. It is a roadmap that draws a picture of a Colombian territory that exploits its biological resources adequately.

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International Mission of Wise Men, Silvia Restrepo, PhD in phytopathology Universidad de los Andes

Raúl Buitrago has worked for three decades at El Cocuy National Park, one of the most attractive reserve areas in Colombia. The expeditions throughout this reserve zone fill the stories of this man, who represents the dozens of park rangers who monitor the 59 national protected areas, administrated by National Natural Parks, entity that completes this month 60 years of existence.

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El Cocuy National Park, Inderena, l Púlpito del Diablo, the Ritacuba Negro and Ritacuba Blanco, Pan de Azúcar, Cóncavo or Sirara

Two biologists from Universidad Nacional de Colombia, designed and edited the booklet Mamíferos de Bogotá (Mammals of Bogotá) that describes 20 species of vertebrates living in the city. They seek to call attention to the importance of these animals. Among the species presented are the Andean bear, the tiger cat, the paramo tapir, the puma, the white-tailed deer and other smaller ones such as the red-tailed squirrel and the hoary bat. It is a coloring booklet.

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(Mammals of Bogotá; and where to find them, Sara Acosta, Rodrigo Mutis

Although illegal wildlife trade in Colombia originates mostly in rural zones, large cities are not detached from this problem. Bogotá, for example, is a key location from where animals are shipped directly to foreign black markets or are traded for local destinations and uses. WCS´s Combatting Wildlife Trafficking Program stresses the importance of understanding the dynamics of illegal wildlife trade increasingly operated by organized crime.

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illegal wildlife trade, black markets, Ambystoma mexicanum, commercialization of animals, Oophaga lehmanni and Oophaga histriónica

Landowners in this town of Cesar are protecting the surroundings of the San Fernandera-Caracoli stream, one of the few places in the Atlantic Coast where the reptile still reproduces in a healthy fashion. With the support of WCS, they control livestock to prevent contamination, plant trees and avoid sand extraction and hunting. Dahl's toad-headed turtle, one of Colombia`s four endemic turtles, is in critical danger of extinction.

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WCS Colombia, Mesoclemmys dahli, Turtle Survival Alliance, Dahl's toad-headed turtle, Chimichagua, Colombia

Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) is a global pact that seeks to involve companies and public-private sectors towards the elimination, in productive chains, of processes that generate deforestation. We talked with Javier Ortiz, TFA coordinator for Colombia, who informs that the country is already advancing with this purpose, through the consolidation of agreements within the palm oil, beef, dairy, cocoa and coffee sectors.

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Tropical Forest Alliance, Javier Ortiz, TFA, Instituto Colombiano Agropecuario, Fedegán, Invima, Ideam

The National Natural Park Selva de Florencia, located in Caldas, is the national protected area with the highest number of threatened amphibians for its size in Colombia. Through the Strategy for the Conservation of Threatened Amphibians and to recover its populations, WCS Colombia, Corpocaldas (Regional Autonomous Corporation of Caldas) and National Natural Parks, teamed together with communities, launched a crusade to protect stream vegetation, plant native flora and control the advance of cattle.

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Frogs

This is one of the four species of endemic turtles in Colombia and one of the least studied. This region of Chocó, where in 2017 the creation of a protected zone was made official, would guarantee the future of this reptile, also known as ‘cabeza de trozo’, and in vulnerable condition due precisely to its reduced distribution. WCS Colombia and Turtle Survival Alliance will soon initiate a research in this region, to monitor its populations.

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WCS Colombia, Turtle Survival Alliance, cabeza de trozo’ or ‘truenito’ turtle, Choco, El Encanto de los Manglares del Bajo Baudo, Kinosternon dunni, the Community Council of Pizarro

Research in the Magdalena-Cauca basin proves that through unique calls, perceptible to the human ear, the Magdalena River prochilodus or bocachico and the moino fish (or comelón) let females know that they are ready to fertilize their ovules and ensure the birth of new fish.  The research, led through hydroacoustic systems by Silvia López Casas, PhD in biology, supports new arguments for the establishment of conservation measures for these species.

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Magdalena River prochilodus, hydroacoustic systems, Silvia López Casas, the Magdalena-Cauca basin

Besides the impact on biodiversity, wildlife trafficking increases the risk of zoonotic diseases that can be fatal and reflect the bond imbalance between humans and animals. Rabies, Psittacosis, Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis and Covid 19 are some of them. WCS Colombia is developing a program to mitigate illegal wildlife trade and, consequently, the surge of these infections which represent 75 percent of emerging diseases in humans.   

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Psittacosis, Rabies, Leishmaniasis, Leptospirosis, Brucellosis, zoonotic diseases, Wildlife Health Program and Trafficking of Specie

In September, the Alexander von Humboldt Institute celebrates the 25th anniversary of its foundation. This organization is in charge of investigating our natural resources, to contribute with their conservation and sustainable use. We talked with its Director, Hernando García, on the challenges he faces in these times of enormous pressures on paramos, forests and other strategic ecosystems. A fourth part of a century seems like a long time, but it can also be only the beginning.

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WCS Colombia, Humboldt Institute, Hernando Garcia, Cristian Samper, 125 años

With the images gathered, researchers will make an analysis of the occupation of ungulates or hoofed mammals, as the tapir, to adapt environmental management measures in the protected area. The camera traps will give clues on the status of this type of fauna usually hunted, for food, by the ethnic groups that live in the protected area.

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WCS Colombia, , Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, El Tuparro, conservation status of the hunting fauna, camera traps, Monitoring Program

Érika Nadachovsky, of the Regional Environmental Authority of Risaralda (Carder), talks of the recuperation of 258 hectares of paramo within Los Nevados National Natural Park, degraded by livestock farming, an initiative of the project ‘Proyecto Páramos Biodiversidad y Recursos Hídricos en los Andes del Norte’, financed by the European Union. Nine thousand native plants were planted, with the aim of restoring original paramo landscapes in part of the ecosystem.

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WCS Colombia, , Los Nevados National Natural Park, Proyecto Páramos Biodiversidad y Recursos Hídrico, European Union

The consequences of illegal traffic in animals extracted from forests or jungles in Colombia, are usually irreversible. Few can return to their habitats, because the physical abuse they receive inhibits their capacity to feed and fend for themselves and many lose their hunting instincts when they are domesticated. It is ironic, but the recovery of their freedom becomes a challenge that few can overcome. We learned about the attempts of the Reserve La Ñupana to rehabilitate species that have suffered this calamity and its efforts to set them free in the jungles of Guaviare. 

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La Ñupana, Corpoamazonia, Carder, Trafficked fauna

The scientific magazine Current Biology recently published that more than half of the planet’s 360 species of continental turtles and tortoises are in danger of extinction. After 400 thousand years of sharing space with mankind, they live their worst crisis due to illegal traffic that transforms them into pets, the use of their parts for the production of supposedly miracle drugs and the destruction of their habitats, among other threats. Germán Forero-Medina, Science Director of WCS Colombia, is coauthor of this global report and explains that in Latin America it is still possible to rescue them and prevent their disappearance.

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WCS Colombia, Turtle Survival Alliance, Mesoclemmys dahli, matamata, Turtles and tortoises are in trouble

Diego Lizcano, one of the Colombians that knows more about tapirs and especially Tapirus pinchaque, talks of the importance of this species that silently regenerates the vegetation of paramos and Andean forests of the country, amid deforestation processes that have it trapped and endangered

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Tapir, Tapirus pinchaque, Diego Lizcano, Tapirus bairdii

In Caldas, 16 foxes of the Cerdocyon thous species perished, when they contracted Canine Distemper, an infectious and contagious disease very common among canines, which was transmitted by domestic dogs that had been abandoned by their owners.

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Foxes, Canine Distemper, Cerdocyon thous , The Wildlife Health and Species Trafficking Progr

A study published in the Regional Studies in Marine Science journal indicates that the future of elasmobranchs in this region of the country depends largely on the fact that the authorities continue preventing the capture of these cartilaginous fish, as is done today. Giving a minimum opportunity to the extraction of these important marine animals, could put their sustainability at risk.

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Sharks, Regional Studies in Marine Science journal, elasmobranchs, Archipelago of San Andrés, Seaflower Biosphere Reserve

A research led by Catalina Gutiérrez, Country Director of WCS Colombia, proved that biological corridors, generally designed and implemented for vertebrates, also contribute to the preservation of bees, especially those that require forests to survive. Corridors provide them with food and places to build their nests and help them connect between populations. The study was conducted in the Barbas-Bremen Soil Conservation District in Quindío, Colombia.

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WCS Colombia, Biological corridors bees, Catalina Gutiérrez, Barbas Bremen, Journal of Insect Conservation

The communities that form part of the project ‘Río Saldaña, una cuenca de vida’, are determined to protect this vital resource with the implementation of responsible practices at their farms, such as basic sanitation, management of organic waste and ecological restoration, leading to sustainable agriculture and livestock farming.

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WCS Colombia, project ‘Río Saldaña, una cuenca de vida’, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Corporación Autónoma Regional del Tolima (Cortoli, Agregados ARGOS and Fundación Grupo Argos

In Choachí (Cundinamarca) Carlos Ríos, a man of peasant origin, dedicated his farm to the conservation of Atelopus lozanoi, an endemic harlequin frog that disappeared at the beginning of the century and was rediscovered in 2016. WCS joins Parques Nacionales de Colombia to support this conservation effort with monitoring, environmental education and productive projects.  

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WCS Colombia, , Frogs, Atelopus lozanoi, Strategy for the Conservation of Threatened Amphi, harlequin frogs, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis

The Colombian Plant Specialist Group, led by Cristina López, biologist of Universidad de Antioquia, is working on the most updated Red List of Colombian Plants, with the purpose of implementing conservation plans. The project is endorsed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Alexander von Humboldt Institute.

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WCS Colombia, Colombian Plant Specialist Group, updated Red List of Colombian Plants

Biologists of Universidad del Tolima found a population of the harlequin frog Atelopus subornatus, that had not been seen in 24 years. The discovery is crucial, because the country has lost stable populations of at least 38 species of this genus. As part of its Strategy for the Conservation of Threatened Amphibians, WCS Colombia is supporting investigations to obtain population data and implement actions for its conservation

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Atelopus subornatus, Andrés Viuche, Universidad del Tolima, Gustavo González, herpetos, arlequín

Between Vichada and Arauca, one of the most important regions in the country for the reproduction of this species, WCS Colombia installed transmitters to a group of turtles to investigate their behavior and their movements along the Meta River.  Depending on the results, the application of more precise conservation strategies to help restrain the extinction of the reptile will be possible.

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WCS Colombia, Turtle Survival Alliance, Acoustic transmitters

A study published in the Scientific Reports magazine that analyzed the condition of 39 national protected areas, reveals that, in 31 of them, deforestation has grown 177 percent after the peace agreement was signed. The investigation was led by Nicola Clerici, professor at the Universidad del Rosario; Germán Forero, Science Director at WCS Colombia, participated. 

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Destruction of forests, Nature, National Park Serranía de La Macarena

A renewed and updated digital space informs on the scenarios where conflicts between development and conservation of natural resources can be settled, explains how to give an adequate use to biodiversity goods and advises on alternatives to obtain off-sets. It was developed by WCS Colombia with the support of the Santo Domingo Foundation.

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Fundepúblico, Mercados ambientales de Colombia, Environmental markets, Fundación Santo Domingo

An investigation in which WCS Colombia participated highlights wetlands as important ecosystems for the subsistence of the felid, whose populations are greatly affected because deforestation and the expansion of agriculture and stockbreeding have deteriorated its habitat.

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WCS Colombia, Jaguar, Panthera Onca, Plos One

A team researches one of them, called Oophaga lehmanni, to reproduce it in captivity and reintroduce it to its habitat. Physically attractive due to its vivid colors, it is one of the most trafficked species.

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WCS Colombia, Oophaga lehmani, frogs, Farallones de Cali, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidi fungus

In a 120 hectare terrain, WCS Colombia, in cooperation with Turtle Survival Alliance (TSA) y Rainforest Trust, will stimulate the healthy conservation and reproduction of the reptile, whose wild populations are isolated due to the deterioration of the dry forest, its main habitat.  The species Mesoclemmys dahli, as it is scientifically known, only lives in the Colombian Caribbean (endemic)

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WCS Colombia, Mesoclemmys dahli, Turtle Survival Alliance

This site, home to forests, birds, amphibians and mammals and source of water for several aqueducts in Salamina (Caldas), faces deforestation and agricultural pressure. WCS Colombia included it as a priority area during the identification of the Main Ecological Structure of the Northern Subregion of this department and as part of a contract with the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Caldas (Corpocaldas).

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WCS Colombia, El Gigante, Nephelomys childi, Bolitoglossa sp

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WCS Colombia, Wildlife Project, news

The Wildlife Conservation Society seeks to employ a regional wildlife trafficking coordinator to manage a growing portfolio of projects in the region that address this challenge and to provide expertise to country programs in the areas of law enforcement and the dismantling of trafficking networks. 

 

The objective of this position is to support the long-term conservation of wildlife species through strengthening our response in Latin America to the illegal trade in - and demand for - wildlife and wildlife products. 

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Latin America Regional Wildlife Trafficking Coordi

This was a series of visits where the exchange of knowledge and experiences by owners of different properties, led to the sharing of various experiences regarding the implementation and management of the privately owned reserves. The reason hereof is that the education and training of so-called "local actors" is critical to the success of any project. All of this took place in line with the 073 agreement from 2014 signed between WCS and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Valle del Cauca (CVC).

This tour of sharing experiences resulted in an excellent environment to motivate different landowners, and served as a basis for enriching ideas on how to manage farm estates. 

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WCS, Ecofuturo, Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca

Recognizing the key role ofColombia for the conservation of South American freshwater turtles andtortoises, and the imminent threat that many of these species face, the TSAlaunched a new Colombian program in July 2012.  This program is possible due to a collaborativeagreement between the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the TSA, and willexpand a model partnership that has already proved effective in Myanmar andChina.

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