According to the Foundation for the Conservation and Study of Biodiversity (CEBio, 2020), in South America, the Cracidae family is the one in great danger of extinction due to habitat loss and the hunting these birds are subjected to, considering approximately half of the species that compose the family as “Endangered” or “Vulnerable”.
Particularly in the case of the Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata), there is evidence of a population reduction greater than 50%. Although there are no studies on the population size of the species in Argentina, it is presumed that the number of individuals would be less than 2,500.
In this sense, this program addresses the conservation of the referred species from the ex situ component, understanding this as the breeding, rescue and management of individuals outside their natural distribution area and under human care. These types of actions will be complementary to those carried out within the distribution area of ​​the species that are the object of conservation, called in situ.
In 2021, a pair of Bare-faced Curassow (Crax fasciolata), belonging to the Cracidae Family, was translocated to Ecoparque to develop breeding protocols for the species.
Through this Program, the following is sought:
Carry out cooperative management of the species of interest with public and private institutions in the country that have Cracids under human care, and are interested in participating in this conservation program.
Generate breeding stocks of the species of interest of the conservation program.
Develop breeding and reproduction protocols for the species of interest, within the framework of the conservation program.
Strengthen institutional ties that allow generating projects to reinforce or reintroduce individuals from the species of interest in natural environments, where they have suffered population declines.
Contribute to comprehensive research of species of interest in areas related to biology, ecology, genetics, reproduction, for their ex situ management and in situ conservation.
Institutionally position Ecoparque as a platform for raising awareness of the problems that affect Cracid species in Argentina, their ecological and cultural importance for the country, as well as of the problems and possibilities of sustainability of the ecosystems corresponding to their current and historical distribution.