Macaws Without Borders

The Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao cyanoptera) is one of the most endangered species in the Mayan forest. Biologists estimate that there are just only 200 remaining wild individuals in Guatemala! In 2000, a consortium of NGOs and GOs came together to form the Macaws Without Borders consortium (Guacamayas Sin Fronteras, GSF) with the aim of conserving these last wild populations of scarlet macaws, the majority in the Laguna del Tigre National Park. GSF consists of ARCAS, CONAP, Defensores de la Naturaleza (an NGO administering the Sierra Lacondon Park), Aviarios Mariana (a private breeding facility) and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS). More recently, this consortium has been expanded to include counterparts in Mexico and Belize making it a unique tri-national conservation effort.

ARCAS's role in Macaws Without Border is to carry out captive-breeding using the non-releasable macaws in the Rescue Center, collaborate in the re-enforcement of native populations and rehabilitate weak, injured or orphaned chicks. Since 2004, it has raised 30 macaws in its captive breeding program. Many thanks to the US Fish and Wildlife Service, Ryoko Takeda, the Oregon Zoo and the Cincinnatti Zoo for their support in this project.

Please see the publications section for more information about this project. ARCAS Publications Library.

Spider Monkey Rehabilitation Program

One of the most frequently-trafficked animal in the Petén region is the Geoffrey’s Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi). These monkeys are usually captured using the incredibly inhumane method of shooting a nursing mother in the treetops, and, if it survives the fall, plucking the baby from its dead mother.

Obviously, these baby monkeys come to the Rescue Center in very poor shape; bruised by the fall, in shock from the loss of their mothers, dehydrated and hungry. They require months of hand feeding and cuddling (cuddling is a biological need for monkeys) before they can be incorporated into a troupe.

Since 2000, ARCAS has been working with CONAP to strengthen its spider monkey rehabilitation and release program and has developed protocols for their rehabilitation and release.  The rehabilitation process is complex. Most monkeys are received as babies and spend their first months in the quarantine area where they are formed into troupes. Once troupes are formed, they are transferred into progressively larger rehabilitation enclosures on the grounds of the Rescue Center where they can build up their muscles and develop social and maintenence skills. During this stage as well as during their time in quarantine, the monkeys are fed wild foods so that they learn what foods to eat once they are released. Prior to release, medical tests are conducted to ensure the monkeys are healthy and pose no threat to wild populations. Prior to release, medical tests are conducted to ensure the monkeys are healthy and pose no threat to wild populations.

The release process starts with monkeys being transferred to temporary soft-release enclosures in remote parts of the MBR, constructed using solar-powered electric fencing to leave an island of trees where monkeys can build up their muscles and learn to forage. There, ethograms are conducted to analyze monkeys' behavior to determine whether they are adapting to the wild. Once these monkeys “graduate”, they are fully released into the MBR with a radio collar to monitor their success in adapting to the wild. The entire process between the time a baby monkey is brought to the Rescue Center and is released into the wild can take over five years!.

Jaguars Without Borders

The jaguar is perhaps the most emblematic species of the Mayan Biosphere Reserve, being the top predator in the dry forest ecosystem of Petén and featuring prominently in Mayan mythology and culture. It is also one of the most seriously endangered wild animals in the area, primarily as a result of habitat loss due to the advance of the agricultural frontier, hunting and animal trafficking.

With its habitat shrinking and with less prey due to unregulated hunting, the issue of “problem jaguars” is increasing, where irate farmers are shooting or poisoning jaguars that are attacking their livestock.

ARCAS is participating in the Jaguars Without Borders consortium, a coalition of Mexican, Guatemalan and Belizean organizations working to conserve this flagship species. With Defensores de la Naturaleza, CONAP and Unidos Para la Conservacion, ARCAS has been participating in the radio-collaring of jaguars in the Sierra Lacondon National Park and has worked on ways to “jaguar proof” cattle ranches.

Check our "ARCAS Wildlife Rescue Center in Peten" and get involved!.