Jaguar Refuge in the Llanos Ecoregion

Geographical location:

Latin America/Caribbean > South America > Venezuela

Summary

The Private Refuge for Wild Jaguars (PRWJ) is a private initiative with the aim to assure the long-term conservation of the jaguars, their natural preys and their forest habitat, transforming jaguars from “villains” (livestock losses caused jaguar’s attacks are frequent) into a source of revenues and new benefits for the local communities and landowners, by introducing better cattle management practices and well organized eco-tourism activities.

THIS PROYECT IS IN STAND-BY IN THIS MOMENT

Background

The Private Refuge for Wild Jaguars (PRWJ) is a private initiative created in 2002 and directed by MANFAUNA (local NGO).

The PRWJ began operations at the end of 2003 after ecological research, land-tenure analysis and landowner’s involvement processes. At the moment more 130,000 hectares comprising 14 private properties and the goal is to reach about 200,000 hectares in the next 5 years.

FUDENA is supporting this initiative as part of the Llanos Ecoregion Conservation Action Plan. The Refuge has already obtained limited support from Wildlife Conservation Society.

Additional support from WWF, national and international promotion are still necessary to increase its operation, public attention and visit of tourists and researchers interested in big cats.

Additionally, the PRWJ operation will serve as model of new ideas for sharing conservation and business.

This initiative is related with Latin America and Caribbean threatened species.

Objectives

- Strengthen the motivation of private landowners (ranchers) towards Jaguar conservation based on the economic advantages of eco-tourism.

- Promote new cattle management strategies to avoid jaguar hunting as solution to livestock losses.

- Generate new opportunities for participation and benefits of local communities.

- Promote the initiative to national and international mass media.

- Promote the establishment of strong and long-term relationships among the landowners and with national and international NGOs interested in Jaguar conservation.

Solution

Introducing better cattle management practices to reduce jaguar attacks, conserving its natural preys and developing eco-tourism activities based on the jaguar and wildlife will produce revenues and benefits for the landowners (less cattle losses) and for the local communities (jobs, incomes) meanwhile PRWJ will permit to give technical advice to the landowners in the cattle management and promote the concept for similar and other species.

Having the Jaguar like umbrella species, we are protecting also other important species that share their same habitats like the ocelot (Leopardus pardalis), the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), the red howler monkey (Alouatta seniculus), the scarlet macaw (Ara macao), the yellow-knobbed currasow (Crax daubentoni) and the wild muscovy duck (Cairina moschata).