10 Sep Press Release – The Ghost Carnivore of the Andes – La Reserva & Durell Wildlife Trust UK
The first ever Western Mountain Coati, is being kept in a strict quarantine and welfare procedures by researchers at the Bioparque la Reserva in Cota, Cundinamarca (Colombia), with the support of experts from Mammal Department at Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust (UK).
This small carnivore was confiscated by the Police and local Environmental Authorities. The Bioparque’s visitors will be able to learn about it through cameras installed in its enclosure until quarantine is completed. In a complementary project, the species’ natural habitat will be protected: a private protected area of 600 hectares* in Sisga (Colombia) has been set aside for páramo conservation in order to study its ecology and behaviour.
The Mountain Coati is perhaps the least studied carnivore in the world and due to its elusive behaviour there is very limited information. It is arguably, a ghost species. Published data has been obtained from skins, tissue samples and skulls belonging to collections in natural history museums, faecal samples, tracks and a single individual which was captured and then released immediately.
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*If you would like to donate to World Coati Day; proceeds are donated to organisations including the Bioparque to continue protecting and preserving the natural habitat of the Mountain Coatis
IMAGE CREDIT: Bioparque la Reserva