Abstract

MELO-VASQUEZ, ISABEL; OCHOA-QUINTERO, JOSÉ MANUEL; LOPEZ-AREVALO, HUGO F.  and  VELASQUEZ-SANDINO, PATRICIA. Potential habitat loss and subsistence hunting of Blue Billed Curassow (Crax alberti), a Colombian critically endangered endemic Bird. Caldasia [online]. 2008, vol.30, n.1, pp.161-177. ISSN 0366-5232.

In this paper, we evaluate the loss of the potential distribution, and we characterize the subsistence hunting of the Blue Billed Curassow (C. alberti) in north Colombian Andes. We used a Geographical Information System based on aerial photographs and satellite images from the years 1986 and 2002, and a structured opinion poll directed to local hunters. In 1986 the species had lost 58.4% of its original potential distribution, and in 2002 the loss was 38.6%. The deforestation rate was 2.4% per year. The study area was divided into eight zones, in order to evaluate its conservation status in the year 2002. The results included zones from vulnerable to critically endangered status. Crax alberti was placed twelfth from 80 species hunted from (2001 to) 2002 to 2003, and it was hunted mainly to be consumed and to be maintained in captivity. Anorí had the major extraction rate (individuals/hunter year), concentrated in the breeding season. Our results show that C. alberti is critically endangered in the study area, as it is at global level.

Keywords : Crax alberti; subsistence hunting; Colombian Andes; potential distribution loss.

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