|
Pró Carnívoros
(Pro Carnivores) |
|
|
|
The Fazenda
Tamanduá Institute maintains an agreement with an entity known as
Pró Carnívoros (Pro Carnivores), ensuring some financial support
for their research work in the semi-arid region. Indeed, the fact that
carnivorous mammals have almost disappeared from the North-Eastern
sertões causes a particularly negative imbalance in the fauna.
In exchange for
this support, Pró Carnívoros carries out periodically, using camera
traps, a survey of the mammals – and especially the wild cats – on the
Farm, in addition to giving talks to the inhabitants, to make them
aware of the need for the presence of these animals.
The systematic preservation policy, applied since the Farm was
acquired by Mocó Agropecuária in 1977, caused the return of three
small carnivores – the small margay, the jaguarundi and the “purple”
cat – in addition to deer, wild dogs, crab-eating raccoons, the sagoin
monkey and tatu peba (a species of armadillo). |
|
|
Preservation of Carnivorous Mammals,
with Emphasis on the Jaguar, in the Caatinga region of North-Eastern
Brazilian: establishment of the jaguar corridor. |
| |
|
|
The project started in January 2006, because of the need for a
diagnosis of the fauna and flora, carried out in the São Francisco
River Basin (640,000 sq. km), in the sphere of the Environment
Ministry’s São Francisco River Revitalization Program, in order to
provide supporting information for government actions to further
social and environmental sustainability, conservation and the
rational use of the basin.
In this diagnosis, CENAP, which is responsible for the mammal
group, registered the presence of the jaguar (Panthera onca)
for the first time in a Caatinga region, in the North of the State
of Bahia.
This species is in danger of extinction in the whole country and
is in a critical preservation situation in the Caatinga. It is
considered essential for the maintenance of biological diversity
and the integrity of the ecosystems in which it is found. |
|
| |
|
The objective of the jaguar preservation project is to give support,
through ecological information regarding this species in the Caatinga,
for the planning and management of a chain of preservation units that
will ensure the preservation of a minimum viable population of the
species, and consequently the preservation of the fauna and flora of
the biome.
Camera traps are being used in order to estimate the jaguar population
density. The space structure, the use of the habitat, the living area
and patterns of movement will be obtained by means of VHF-GPS
radio-telemetry.
DNA analyses will provide information on the population’s genetic
diversity, and the data obtained will be analyzed for a simulation of
the population viability. Information collected on conflicts between
human beings and predators will allow different government sectors to
propose effective measures so as to reduce losses on both sides
(predation of domestic livestock and loss of biodiversity). |
 |
|
Onça-pintada
(Panthera onca) |
|
|
|
Up to now, 386 photos of medium-size and large mammals have been obtained, including 112 of carnivores; and of these, two
were of jaguars in the same sample site. We estimate that there is a
little less than one jaguar per 100 sq. km., which indicates a low density
of that species in the region. The data on the wild cat jaguatirica
(Leopardus pardalis) was also used for a population estimate and
prior analyses resulted in about 30 jaguatiricas per 100 sq. km.
Last March, the first campaign to capture an individual jaguar to receive
a radio-collar was carried out, but no individual was captured. However,
efforts will continue in order to capture up to ten individuals of this
species.
Finally, it should be pointed out that the project has the support of the
following institutions: Pro-Carnivore Institute, São Francisco River
Revitalization Project, Fazenda Tamanduá Institute, Environment and Water
Resources Secretariat of the State of Bahia, and BOVESPA Social.
At Fazenda Tamanduá, Pró Carnívoros is developing an inventory of
the existing carnivores and mammals, by means of periodical surveys made
with the help of camera traps. |
