Thanks to the commitment of the community and the ISA Group’s Conexión Jaguar Program, Colombia envisages a positive future for sustainable development. This was demonstrated by the evaluation of the second stage of the sampling of camera traps installed by researchers from Panthera, a technical ally of the Program, in Cimitarra, Santander; and in the visit to install camera traps in Tierralta, Córdoba, where great findings for the ecosystem balance were evidenced.
As part of the activities of the Conexión Jaguar Program and related projects to date, the presence of minor species such as lowland paca, opossum, capybara, armadillo, and capuchin monkey has been recorded, but what surprised the study and monitoring team was the presence of the cotton-top tamarin and the blue-billed curassow.
The presence of these species in the Colombian territory is the most representative indicator of the support provided by the Program for the conservation of forests in strategic areas, from which it contributes to a greater extent to the connectivity of forests and the survival of these species. According to information from the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), these species, which live in Colombia and are found nowhere else in the world, are critically endangered.
In the case of the Blue-billed Curassow, it was believed to be an extinct bird in the study area, the last sighting of which was made in Cimitarra, Santander on April 25, 2004, by the Red Nacional de Observadores de Aves (National Network of Bird Observers) (RNOA). The cotton-top tamarin population is being affected in its habitat by the expansion of the agricultural and livestock frontier. However, some protected natural areas such as the Paramillo National Natural Park (PNN) are home to very important populations for the conservation of this species.
Precisely, one of the strategies of the Conexión Jaguar Program focuses on increasing vegetation cover, and in turn, connecting the relict forests found in the project area, favoring the movement and settlement of fauna, including the cotton-top tamarin and the blue-billed curassow. The Program also works for the conservation of biodiversity, which is of significant importance for the evolution and maintenance of the systems necessary for life on the planet. The commitment of the community, as well as the openness of the farm owners to participate and join the Conexión Jaguar Program, as is the case of the Compañía Colombiana de Cacao (Colombian Cocoa Company), managed by Agrow, are a key factor not only for forest connectivity but also to contribute to climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation.
“The Conexión Jaguar Program is the legacy that ISA wants to leave to future generations, which is why it is important to join efforts to raise awareness among Colombians of the need to conserve the jaguar’s habitat, its presence guarantees not only the subsistence of other species, but also demonstrates the connectivity of ecosystems and that is what we seek, a sustainable development that guarantees the ecosystem balance. More forests, more wildlife and better water for society”. Said ISA’s CEO, Bernardo Vargas Gibsone..
It is hoped that with the active participation of the community and the strategic allies South Pole and Panthera, a balance will be achieved between agricultural activities and biodiversity conservation, and that the actions carried out by ISA’s Conexión Jaguar Program will continue to have a positive impact on the quality of ecosystems, which undoubtedly contributes to the sustainable growth of the country. Blue-billed Curassow The male and female have a crest of curly feathers that, based on ancestral beliefs, was given to them after stealing fire from the jaguar to give to humanity. According to the story, the curassows carried a burning log on their backs, the flames burned their feathers on the crest, and they were forever curled.
The blue-billed curassow inhabits ecosystems up to 1.200 meters above sea level in the rainforest, breeding in the dry season and nesting between December and March. It can reach 93 cm in height and has terrestrial habits. The male is black, and the lower part of the tail is white. The female is also black, with lighter reddish lines on the underside of the tail. It feeds on fruits, germinated seeds, small invertebrate animals, and crabs.
Cotton-top tamarin: This primate is found only in the departments of Atlántico, Bolívar, Sucre, and Córdoba. They live in primary and secondary forests, in family groups of between two and nine individuals. This mammal weighs about 400 grams and measures about 20 to 25 centimeters and is characterized by its crest of white hair that runs from its forehead to the nape of its neck. This species is critically endangered, and its population in the wild is estimated at only 6.000 individuals. Prior to 1974, the species was exploited and exported for use in biomedical research and pet trade.
