Pacarana Conservation Programme

To develop a long-term conservation project to ensure the survival of pacaranas in Colombia

The general objective of the programme is to develop a long-term conservation project that will ensure the survival of the pacarana (Dinomys branickii) in the Colombian Andean region.

Specific objectives include:

• Strengthen the current Colombian captive breeding programme.
• Assess the genetic and demographic viability of the captive-breeding colony and the remaining wild populations.
• Identify the true conservation status of the species in Colombia.
• Survey the remnant tropical mountain forest.
• Evaluate the local communities' attitudes towards the species.
• Continue with general biological and ecological studies of the species.

The conservation concerns that triggered the project include the pacarana's taxonomic uniqueness (last survivor of the family Dinomyidae), level of taxon threat (one genus with one species) and drastic habitat reduction. In Colombia, the species is listed in the Red Data Book of Threatened Mammals as "vulnerable" and is equally classified as "vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

WAZA Conservation Project 10020 is implemented by the Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientale, with support provided by Newquay Zoo, Cottbus Animal Park and Los Angeles Zoo. Other stakeholders involved in the project include the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations and the Zoo-AG Bielefeld.

Visit www.udca.edu.co.