Reserve in Paraná has 12 species of endangered animals

Researchers from the Serra do Mar Large Mammals Program identified animals of 12 endangered species in the Salto Morato Natural Reserve, maintained by the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, in Guarçouba, on the north coast of Paraná. Among the recorded mammals are the Moorish cat, the jaguar, the wild cat, the puma or margay and the margay. The classification is made by the Ministry of the Environment (MMA) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Jacutinga, found in the reserve – Haroldo Palo/Fundação Grupo Boticário Among the birds, the jacutinga stands out, an important seed disperser of the juçara palm tree, an endangered plant, and the rare hawk-pigeon-pequeno, an endemic species in Brazil associated to forests in good condition. “The Atlantic Forest is the biome that has the most endangered fauna and flora species, mainly because it is a hotspot, an area that has a lot of natural wealth and endemic species that are only found there. Having our reserve as a refuge for some of these endangered species is a great indication, as it shows that the area provides healthy habitats capable of harboring species of such importance for the conservation of the biome”, said the manager of the Salto Morato Natural Reserve, Ginessa Lemos. Strategy The identification of the animals, carried out by the researchers, relied on a database of more than 4,000 records made over the last 10 years at the site. Lemos highlighted the importance of protected areas as a strategy for conservation and preservation of habitats. The Salto Morato Nature Reserve has been in existence since 1994. “Today, we are already reaping important results, such as the appearance of the jaguar. Of this and 11 other endangered species within an area that is considered even small-2,253 hectares-, but very expressive in terms of biodiversity”, she explained. The manager added that, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of records of endangered species accompanied by young. Ginessa pointed out that this type of record shows that protected areas play an essential role in preserving natural habitats, maintaining the balance of ecosystems and maintaining viable populations of local fauna. “In 2021 and 2022, we had the highest number of records of adult species with young. In all there were six: two of Moorish cat, one of jaguar, one of wild cat and another of ocelot. The puma is one of the endangered animals – Disclosure / Fundação Grupo Boticário In 2021, we had the first record of a puma cub. This is a huge victory for conservation,” she specified. Salto Morato, maintained by the Boticário Group Foundation for Nature Protection, is part of the Great Atlantic Forest Reserve, the largest continuous remnant of the biome in the world, which encompasses 60 municipalities in Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo, and is also in a recognized area by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Unesco) as a Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Agência Brasil