The critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow is found only in the Magdalena Valley of Colombia. Tragically, most of this wilderness has been lost to logging, agricultural expansion, cocaine production, and mining. The Magdalena Valley’s deforestation rate between 1998 and 2007 has been between 5-7% per year. The Curassow’s population was estimated at 1,000-2,500 birds in 1994, and local reports indicate that there have been more recent and rapid declines.
ABC Conservation Framework
Efforts to save this species comes under Safeguarding the Rarest within ABC's Conservation Framework
The Magdalena Valley has an exceptional diversity of endemic birds, plants, mammals, amphibians, and other groups, including the curassow, the endangered White-mantled Barbet, and Sooty Ant-Tanager, as well as populations of wintering neotropical migrants such as the Cerulean Warbler and Swainson’s Hawk (see a Checklist of the Reserve's 313 birds). Importantly, the area contains the last remnant populations of several large mammals such as the critically endangered Magdalena subspecies of lowland tapir, jaguar, and spectacled bear, as well as a population of the variegated spider monkey, considered one of the rarest primates on earth.
YouTube - White mantled Barbet - Capito hypoleucus. By. Luis Eduardo Urueńa
Solutions
We can prevent the further decline of the Blue-billed Curassow by protecting additional habitat, and by educating the local communities on its conservation.
ABC Results
ABC and its Colombian partner Fundación ProAves established the 12,400-acre El Paujíl Bird Reserve in 2004 in order to protect the critically endangered Blue-billed Curassow.
In 2010, expansion of reserve with multiple key partners now brings total land protection to exceed 14,8300 acres in Colombia’s unique Magdalena Valley, an area where lowland tropical rainforest is being rapidly cleared for agriculture.
Lodge and trail systems have been constructed at the reserve to facilitate ecotourism, which helps to generate funds for the reserve.
Continued improvements to ecotourism experience have been made, including purchase of a motor boat for transporting birdwatchers to the lodge, gardens, and new dining kiosk.
ABC and ProAves have initiated a Women in Conservation program at El Paujíl, providing women living in the buffer zone of the reserve with economic opportunities in return for agreeing to protect the reserve and its natural resources.
A local school changed its name to El Paujil in honor of the curassow, indicating the power of ongoing local education campaigns
Hunting of the Blue-billed Curassow and variegated spider-monkey has been significantly reduced.
What Next?
ABC and ProAves are currently raising funds to improve the ecolodge infrastructure, monitor the elusive Blue-billed Curassow, and provide sound management throughout the large Reserve.
