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1. RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTRES IN LATIN AMERICA

In Latin America, where a high biodiversity exists, much of the natural resources including wildlife are exploited for economical purposes. There are hundreds of thousands of animals being poached each year by illegal traders to keep them as pets frequently in inadequate conditions (Drews, 1999).

The majority of these individuals die before they get to their final destination, however few arrive to rescue and rehabilitation centres where the final disposition is decided: release back to the wild, captivity or euthanasia.

1.1. Aims and Procedures.

According to Drews (1999), the main objective of the rescue and rehabilitation centres in the neotropic is to receive, evaluate and diagnose, to treat and heal, to readapt and release or to relocate wildlife. Secondary objectives are to provide education, divulge, research and provide training.

The centres are divided into areas in which trained staff work for the welfare and disposition of the individuals. Generally a centre has an administrative, a clinic, a rehabilitation and a maintenance area.

1.2. Evaluation and Management of Animal Behaviour in Rescue and Rehabilitation Centres.

In rehabilitation centres the management of animal behaviour is one of the most important things to consider, when individuals can be released as a final disposition. The information achieved on these releases in the future could probably support reintroduction or restocking programs.

The majority of the animals that arrive to these centres come from confiscations. Some come from people that donate their exotic pets, sometimes because they realise that wild animals should be free. They believe that every animal that arrive to rescue and rehabilitation centres is released.

Sometimes animals showing abnormal behaviours are not wanted anymore. Adult animals become less cute. In Colombia, people always donate adult male monkeys (Cebidae), because they can not control them any longer and they can represent a danger for people. The big majority of these animals are in bad general condition due to the poor conditions of captivity and diet they had.

Most of the animals that arrive to a rehabilitation centre have had previous encounter with human beings, if this has been for a long time some individuals can present changes in their natural behaviours due to the familiarisation with people. Such a situation may have implications for conspecific, predators and prey recognition which may compromise their ability to survive in the wild should they be released.

1.3 The DAMA Wildlife Rescue Centre in Bogotá, Colombia. (Centro de Recepción de Fauna Silvestre de Engativá - DAMA).

DAMA (Departamento Técnico Administrativo del Medio Ambiente) is the government environmental agency in Bogotá. It is in charge of all aspects related to environmental law enforcement, including wildlife trade.

Wild animals from ilegal trade are frequently confiscated, and they are send to their wildlife rescue centre.

At the centre, all the animals go through a quarantine period, according to the protocol developed by Nassar-Montoya et al, 1998. This period depends on the species: Mammals, Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians 60 days, Primates 90 days.

	Revised 2006-10-10	About | Gallery | Service | Firms | Fun | Research