Animal Welfare Peru Project #8348

Protecting Jaguars and Biodiversity in the Amazon

by Action Change (Formerly GVI Trust)

Project Report | May 24, 2017
Supporting Coastal Jaguar Conservation

By Cynthia Arochi | GVI Costa Rica, Country Director

CJC Training Session with volunteers

Dear Supporters,

We have recently made funding available, in the amount of £1250, to our local partners, the Coastal Jaguar Conservation (CJC). As CJC is a small organisation, the funds are supporting them to continue their invaluable research in the Tortuguero area. They are also very involved in the dissemination of information about jaguar conservation in Costa Rica.

The funds will be used to enhance the continuation of the jaguar research work done on the Southern side of Tortuguero National Park (TNP). This is a year long ongoing project with the following objectives:

To continue studying the relationship between prey-predation in the South of TNP.
To continue studying the unique behaviour of jaguar cubs in TNP (as they are displaying a different behaviour due to turtle presence).
To continue identifying DNA samples and heavy metals from Jag scats.
To continue creating a database on abundance and diversity on jaguar population (residents & migrants) in the South of TNP.

The jaguar population in the TNP seems to be stable and showing unique behaviours that only happen here, and in very few places, due to the turtle nesting. CJC aims to continue studying this unique behaviour, as well as cub behaviour, as there are a few now living in the area. There is still so much that we don't yet know about the jaguars in the area, so together with Panthera and the Univerity of Costa Rica, genetic tests are being done in order to determine genetic trends, feeding and now a new study on heavy metals, all make up the studies that we, in conjunction with CJC, wish to focus on this year.

Your donations are making it possible!

What we have done so far:

Training to new staff
Provision of equipment to re-start the project on the Southern side of TNP. This includes camera traps, batteries, GPS, field books and scent stations.
CJC hosted an in-depth training session to volunteers about jaguar research

We look forward to bringing you updates on our research in the coming months.

Thank you for your generosity and making this project possible.

With Gratitude,
GVI Costa Rica

Setting up some of the equipment

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Mar 3, 2017
Final reflections on our achievements for 2016

By Cynthia Arochi | GVI Costa Rica, Country Director

One of the turtle nests we studied

Dear Supporters,

Our base in Tortuguero National Park (TNP) re-opened in Janaury after being closed over December. We are getting back into the swing of things. We would like to take this opportunity to reflect on some of the highlights of each of our projects that we ran in 2016.

The Sea Turtle Project

We have been working in pertnership with the Sea Turtle Conservancy for over 7 years now. Our turtle seasons run from March-May for Leatherbacks and June- November for Green Turtles. In 2016 we

worked 10 Leatherbacks and marked 7 nests
Worked 567 Green turtles and marked 60 nests
Worked 13 Hawksbill turtles and marked 6 nests

This was a successful year for the Jalova Turtle Project, having trained more than 13 staff throughout the season, and more than 17 volunteers specifically for the turtle project. Jalova, also broke records in the area, having managed to work 25 turtles in one night patrol. 2017 looks promising for the hub and its turtles, as the turtle numbers, training and protocols will be improved.

Jaguar Project

In conjunction with Coastal Jaguar Conservation we have been working to determine whether predation of marine turtles by jaguars is having an impact on the turtle population in the area. This predation is not a new phenomenon but it seems to be increasing over the past 10 year period. Through our research we also aim to estimate the minimum number of jaguars using the coastal habitat of TNP and identify the availability of prey species in the area.

Using a series of camera traps and patrols over 2016 we have substantially expanded the knowledge base for this relationship. We are starting to better understand their presence, abundance and habits.

Incidentals and Forest Biodiversity Project

In collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Education (MINAE) we have been documenting vertebrate species found on the southern tip of TNP. In 2016, we have been able to include 10 species that have not previously been seen in the area. The total number of species observed within this area since we began in 2010 is now at 462.

The Incidentals Project broadens the scope of our observations to include birds, reptiles and amphibians. We aim to construct a thorough species inventory for MINAE. We ensure that all of the volunteers are qualified to undertake the surveys, that they go out at different times of the day and to different areas. By doing so we can ensure that the data that we deliver to MINAE every 6 months is accuarte and reliable.

Bird Project

Also in collaboration with MINAE and with similar objectives- we aim to establish the species richness in the area. We have a special focus on 30 canal birds that are observed closest to our base. In 2016, we completed 119 surveys, recorded (visual or auditory) 1173 individual birds, a total of 64 different species. Of this, 24 were our target species.

We would like to thank you for your support of our work last year. We are looking forward to another succesful year in 2017!

With Gratitude,
GVI Costa Rica

Out on a biodiversity hike

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Dec 15, 2016
2016 Achievements and Results in Jalova

By Cynthia Arochi | GVI Costa Rica, Country Director

Thank you for your support in 2016!

Dear Supporters,

As 2016 draws to a close, we like to take a few moments and reflect on what we have managed to achieve here in Tortuguero National Park (TNP) thanks to your amazing support.

TNP, where Jalova Research Station is located, is a protected area for thousands of species, some of them listed in the IUCN Red List of Endangered or Vulnerable Species. Working in partnership with SINAC, Coastal Jaguar Conservation (CJC) and The Sea Turtle Conservancy, we work towards the conservation and research of birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. We work to support the work of the local park rangers who work tirelessly to protect the wildlife here. Most notably is the work to conserve the turtles and jaguars who call this park home.

Camera Traps

During the course of 2016, we supported our partners at CJC by purchasing and installing 9 camera traps and the associated material required to keep them field operational. These cameras are essential to the continued monitoring of the jaguar population of TNP, and their predator-prey relationship with the four species of marine turtle that nest in the area. We have managed to gather valuable footage and data over the course of the year using these traps.

In August we had one of our busiest data collection periods yet, and the camera traps were invaluable. We were able to capture incredible footage of Jaguar predation on the marine turtles. We came across a record number of 44 kill sites on the 15 mile stretch of beach. We are then able to set up camera traps near the kills to see if there is any more predation activity on the carcases.

Park Signage

We were also able to purchase new signage for TNP. The 38 signs that we were able to get made and installed, illustrate the restrictions and regulations in TNP. There are signs indicating the road speed limits, the prohibition of fishing, hunting and poaching activities, and speed limits within the river channels. This offers a huge amount of support for the rangers and makes their supervision and monitoring activities in the park a lot easier.

Your support makes the work that we do possible. Thank you for supporting us in 2016!

We wish you a happy festive season and a prosperous 2017.

With Gratitude,
GVI Jalova

Setting up camera traps (picture by CJC)

Brand new park signage

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