Four “vulnerable” and “near-threatened” species were among the 42 species recorded by the 50 camera traps installed in the Peruvian Amazon between September and November 2019 by the NGO Panthera and Conexión Jaguar, ISA’s sustainability program, who support the Ucayali REDD+ Biored project, a pioneering alliance for climate change mitigation and conservation in the heart of the Amazon.
Among the 42 species (24 mammals, 16 birds, one reptile and one amphibian), the jaguar (Panthera onca), which has a “near threatened” risk category, was recorded, along with the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) and the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), with a “vulnerable” threat category.
The records of these four species demonstrate the good conservation status of the area and highlight the importance of their work in protecting the Amazon forest from illegal logging, deforestation, and indiscriminate hunting.
The jaguar has the ability to regulate the distribution, abundance, and behavior of the animals it feeds on, maintaining the dynamics of ecological processes. Its presence indicates a good state of conservation of the ecosystems, since it is sensitive to hunting, changes of cover due to the use of land for agriculture, mining and cattle ranching and contaminated water sources.
The tapir is one of the largest mammals in the Amazonian forests of South America. It is known as “the architect of the jungle” since they feed on different fruits and are therefore good seed dispersers, helping the regeneration of the forest. In addition, due to their enormous size and great weight (150 to 250 kg), as they make their way through the plants, they create paths that are then used by various animals. Among its main threats are hunting and deforestation.
The presence of the white-lipped peccary is an indicator of primary (or virgin) forest and of a large area of conserved territory, because they move in herds of up to 200 individuals that need a diversity of fruits, seeds, and tubers. This species is very vulnerable to deforestation and hunting for its meat and skin. It is also one of the jaguar’s favorite preys.
The anteater covers a large territory and therefore functions as an umbrella species, i.e., its protection grants the protection of multiple other species. Because of its diet, it plays an important role in the ecology by controlling insects such as ants and termites. The main threat faced by this species is the destruction of its habitat by forest fires.
What is photo trapping?
It is a research tool for biodiversity conservation and the study of species that are difficult to observe directly.
Results of photo-trapping in the Peruvian Amazon:
- Number of species recorded: 42
- Number of jaguar records: 5
- Number of feline records: 31
- Number of species with a threat category: 4
