Page 46 - BBC Wildlife Volume 36 #10
P. 46
JOCOTOCO ANTPITTA
P A C I F I C
O C E A N C O L O M B I A
QUITO
E C U A D O R
Andes
Amazon rainforest
P E R U
TAPICHALACA RESERVE
Protecting
the jocotoco
antpitta’s home
Situated on the eastern slope of
An adult Jocotoco the Andes, the Tapichalaca Reserve
antpitta (left) with covers around 3,300ha today,
a juvenile feeding with terrain ranging from various
on the forest floor types of forest to the high paramo
at Tapichalaca
at 3,400m. It supports thousands
of species, among them over 130
endemic plants and 12 globally
the start, families who sold the Foundation As my blue eyes met the dark red eyes threatened species of frog, including
their land at Tapichalaca were employed of a jocotoco antpitta on my own quest the Tapichalaca tree frog that occurs
as rangers. Its reserves also invite visits to see the species in February 2018 in nowhere else. One of the more
from schools, and birdfeeders are open a forest undisturbed by the sound of striking mammalian residents is the
to the public to encourage a fascination chainsaws, I thought about the way in Endangered Andean tapir, which is
with local wildlife. The mayor of Palanda, which this shy, unassuming bird and its easily identified by its white lips
near Tapichalaca, has approached the once-unfamiliar call led to the protection – as though it has just been caught
Foundation to further extend its reserve of a forest and creation of an entire with its snout in a bowl of sugar.
to help protect two local rivers – and thus conservation movement in Ecuador. And
the town’s water supply. An emergency I thought, too, of how it came by its
fund for staff and families is in place and scientific name, Grallaria ridgelyi.
university bursaries have also been provided “It’s an incredible saga,” Bob Ridgely
for some local youngsters. In other areas, agrees. “Looking back, it seems almost
Foundation volunteers have renovated unbelievable that everything could have
buildings in towns and villages and helped fallen into place so well. Now the Jocotoco
regenerate local coffee plantations. Foundation is one of the strongest NGOs
involved in major land protection efforts for
Firm foundation endangered species – not just in Ecuador,
These efforts in the community have but really anywhere in the world. To think it
helped to raise awareness of wildlife and all started with this marvellous bird. I still
the environment with local peoples to the get goose bumps just thinking about it!” The Tapichalaca
extent where the black-breasted puffleg has tree frog (above) is
been adopted as the emblematic species unknown elsewhere;
(below) Andean tapir.
of Quito. As I travelled through the small NEIL GLENN is a writer and bird Top to bottom: Derek Kverno; Franco Mendoza; Dominic Mitchell
communities dotted around Foundation tour guide. He stayed in Ecuador
reserves, I was impressed by the number of courtesy of Neblina Forest.
murals, wall paintings and wildlife statues
in the streets and parks. It really does seem FIND OUT MORE
as though local people have taken their Jocotoco Foundation: jocotoco.org
wildlife and the Foundation to their hearts. World Land Trust: worldlandtrust.org
46 BBC Wildlife October 2018
