Camera traps show wealth of wildlife in Bolivia’s threatened Beni savannah
Great footage of giant anteater wallowing
May 2013. Recent Glasgow University expeditions to Bolivia’s Beni savannah have produced important survey data on the birds and mammals of the Barba Azul Nature Reserve. The research teams also captured fascinating camera-trap footage including a great sequence of a Giant Anteater enjoying a nocturnal wallow.
World Land Trust (WLT) is currently raising funds to extend Barba Azul Nature Reserve, an area of extraordinary biodiversity managed by WLT’s Bolivian conservation partner Armonía.
Joanne Kingsbury led Glasgow University’s first research expedition to Barba Azul Nature Reserve in Bolivia’s Beni savanna in 2009. A student of zoology at Glasgow University (GU), Joanne went on to assist three more expeditions to Barba Azul between 2010 and 2012. In April Joanne shared her experiences of the reserve with Ruth Canning, WLT’s Conservation Programmes Manager (Americas Region) and WLT Council Member, Kevin Cox. In general, bird numbers seem to be fluctuating, which is a concern, but mammal populations, on the other hand, seem to be either stable or actually increasing.
Remote and undisturbed – Buy an Acre Fund
The extension to the reserve, which WLT is raising funds for through the Buy an Acre fund, includes 26 isolated forest islands and 3 large forest islands within this savannah habitat.
These forest islands are crucial habitat for a host of species particularly the endangered Blue-throated Macaw. Larger islands are important to the macaws for foraging, and smaller ones are thought to be safe havens for roosting and nesting.
Extending the reserve will offer more potential breeding areas for the species, as well as additional areas of tall grass savannah, vital for several of the reserve’s threatened grassland birds.
“The Beni is phenomenal for wildlife, a unique endemic habitat, found nowhere else in the world and we need to protect as much of this habitat as we can now before it’s too late,” says Joanne who fears that more road and bridge building would be disastrous. “If better roads went in, that would be the beginning of the end for the habitat and its wildlife.”
Motacu palm
The Motacu palm (Attalea phalerata) is a keystone species, and the palm nuts are essential for the survival of many species. In particular the palm nuts are a vital food source for the Blue-throated Macaw.
The Motacu palm grows on Beni’s forest islands. These occur on areas of high ground where tree roots escape seasonal flooding. The islands vary in size from a few square metres to square kilometres and the difference in elevation between flooded regions and forest is often only a metre or so.
Blue-throated Macaw – Critically Endangered
The Blue-throated Macaw (Ara glaucogularis) is Critically Endangered (IUCN 2013), with estimates of between 100-400 left in the wild. It is endemic to the Beni savanna of Bolivia and very little is known about its ecology or behaviour.
Its range overlaps with that of the Blue and Yellow Macaw. Both macaw species are frequently spotted foraging in Motacu palms on the larger forest islands of the reserve during the day. At dusk, both species congregate at a number of specific pre-roost aggregation sites and then fly off in large groups, presumably to roost in areas outside the reserve. The islands appear to be important congregation or ‘stop-off’ points for macaws coming in from other islands at dusk. Blue throat feathers were found in some of the smaller islands, which raises the question could these be roost sites?
Worryingly, the expedition surveys show a decrease in Blue-throated Macaw numbers from 103 in 2010 to 52 in 2011.
Camera-traps
In 2009 the expedition had 10 old fashioned manual camera traps that took pictures with mounted disposable cameras. The quality was poor and the photos were prone to damage.
With subsequent funds raised via grants from bodies such as the Royal Geographical Society and Carnegie Trust for Scotland, the expedition team now has 26 brand new digital traps. The digital traps have captured some phenomenal shots and videos of the reserve’s more elusive wildlife, and are enabling population trends to be monitored.
The traps are positioned in pairs along bush trails, near watering holes or in areas where animal signs are present (tracks, scat etc).
Top cats – Puma, ocelot and Pampas cat
Camera-trap pictures of Puma (Puma concolor) were first captured in 2010, a big male feeding on a Capybara. Later, further pictures showed a female with two cubs. Evidence of breeding on the reserve is encouraging to see, specifically in large predatory species that are top of the food chain, indicating that the ecosystem is healthy enough to support new life. Adult Puma populations have since remained stable on the reserve with 2 individuals recorded in both 2011 and 2012.
Likewise, images of Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) were first captured in 2010. On a positive note, adult ocelot populations seem to have increased on the reserve with: 2 individuals recorded in 2010, 3 in 2011 and 4 2012.
In 2012 the Near Threatened (IUCN 2013) Pampas Cat (Leopardus colocol) was recorded on camera-trap for the first time. The Pampas Cat is currently in decline across the South American continent due to habitat loss to make way for agriculture and stock grazing. This record of the pampas cat is important, both for the reserve and for the Beni, as it has not been formally recorded in this region before.
Giant Anteaters and other mammals
Other mammals monitored include:
Giant Anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) (Vulnerable): showing an increase in adult population on the reserve, from 2 individuals recorded in 2009 to 6 in 2012 plus evidence of breeding (3 individuals with young in 2012). Fur markings, particularly on the foreleg and neck, are used to identify individuals and make minimum population estimates for the reserve.
Marsh Deer (Blastocerus dichotomus): in serious decline due to habitat loss, wetland drainage and damming, loss of habitat, hunting and transmission of cattle diseases.
Maned Wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus): Near Threatened (IUCN 2013) although populations on the reserve seem stable with the same 2 individuals spotted every year between 2010-2012
Savannah passerines in decline
Surveys of the reserve’s threatened savannah passerine species conducted in 2010 and 2011 show species may have declined
Cock-tailed Tyrant (Alectrurus tricolor) population estimates fell from 427 to 103 individuals
Black-masked Finch (Coryphaspiza melanotis) population estimates fell from 768 to 318 individuals
Wedge-tail Grass Finch (Emberizoides herbicola) population estimates fell from 750 to 491 individuals
Joanne believes that fluctuations in numbers of these species are likely to be linked to grassland succession – specifically patterns in the frequency of grassland wildfires.
Wildfires
Periodic wildfires are a normal part of the Beni’s ecology and an important in maintaining the savanna’s biodiversity. However, fire frequency in the Beni may be unnaturally high as fires, which are often set by ranchers to stimulate new grass growth for their cattle, tend to rage out of control and sweep across more wild parts of the region.
Protecting stands of tall grassland on reserves like the Barba Azul will therefore be paramount for protecting these endangered birds.
