The armadillo conservation program in the Colombian Llanos: combining science, education and policy

SUPERINA, M.; CORTÉS DUARTE, A.; TRUJILLO, F.

Cartagena de Indias

Congreso; International Congress for Conservation Biology; 2017

Society for Conservation Biology

Successful conservation actions require strategies that combine research, policy formulation and enforcement, and education. The Program for the Conservation of Armadillos in the Llanos of Colombia is a pioneering initiative that addresses these issues in different ways. It was initiated in 2013 and involves a multi-institutional team consisting of a private company, an NGO, academia, government representatives, a zoological institution, and the local community. The main goal of the Armadillo Program is to consolidate efforts that warrant the conservation and management of the populations of five armadillo species in the Orinoco region of Colombia. The development of the first joint action plan of two Colombian environmental agencies allowed establishing armadillos as conservation priorities in the entire Orinoco region, protecting them in an area of 260000 km2. Its main lines of action are being addressed by the Armadillo Program. Scientific research has advanced the knowledge on the ecology and conservation problems of armadillos in the Llanos and resulted in several undergraduate theses and scientific publications. It has also led to the re-categorization of one species in the Red List of Threatened Species. Private breeding facilities and the zoo rehabilitate confiscated armadillos and carry out ex situ research and environmental education. Regular training is given to staff and students. The Friends of the Armadillos program consists of a network of farms and private natural reserves committed to armadillo conservation, warranting their protection in a total area of about 100 km2. The education programs, exhibitions, school projects, and popular, scientific, and drawing books on armadillos have raised awareness in over 20000 persons. A novel program called ?Restaurants free of wild meat? was designed and implemented to reduce the impact of poaching and illegal trade. This pioneering pilot program could be replicated in other areas and applied to other species.