Columbia:
Pacarana project in Bogotá

The Pacarana (Dinomys branickii), also known as "false Paca", belongs to the most unknown mammals in the northern Andes of South America. Even in the 19th century it was considered to be rare. Thirty years after its first description in 1873, only two living specimen were reported from Brazil though the species was described as being noticeable gentle and well-tempered. Pacaranas are big, robust rodents with an average weight of 12 kg and a head to tail length of about 73-79cm. Characteristic traits of this species which is often mixed up with the real Paca (Agouti paca) are long white whiskers, broad, yellow incisors and a long hairy tail. The alignment of the spot pattern differs within adult Pacaranas. These mostly nocturnal herbivorous animals mostly feed on leaves, tubers and fruits. During the day the skilful climbers seek shelter in caves without building a nest. With every litter, one or two offspring are born. Pacaranas live in family groups of six to eight individuals. The distribution is restricted to the heights from 1800 m up to 3200 m of the Cordillera from Bolivia to Venezuela.
This last remaining representative of the family Dimomyidae has been classified by IUCN as critically endangered due to upcoming agriculture, poaching and the destruction of their habitat.

Even rare in zoological gardens

In 1902, the first living Pacarana arrived at Hamburg Zoo. The studbook, managed by the zoo of Rio Grande do Sul in Brazil, lists 25 Pacaranas in December 1994, living in nine zoos, none in an European institution. Even in Colombia the Pacarana is rarely held in captivity with only 32 individuals in three zoos. In 2004, ISIS listed only 6.4 individuals outside South America in three US zoos.

The increasing destruction of sub-Andean woods as well as the higher situated cloud forests and highlands (Páramo) in the Columbian part of the Andes were the main reasons why the University of Bogotá started a series of projects on species conservation in this region. Eight Pacaranas which had been confiscated from illegal animal traders were the basis for these studies.

The U.D.C.A. keeps a group of about 15 Pacaranas in an outdoor enclosure. In the course of time the project received additional financial support from national and international NGOs like WSPA, WCS and ZGAP.

Research aspects:

• Detection and measurement of pregnandiol (PdG) in the faeces of female Pacaranas

• Comparative analysis of the bone structure of hystricomorph rodents of the Andes

• Characterisation of habitat for upcoming reintroduction projects.

First Steps for a conservation program in Columbia

In May 2004, on the initiative of ZGAP, the main features for an international committee with interested European zoos were agreed upon to continue the Pacarana conservation project in the long-term. So far, the achieved biological knowledge enables to define current problems and suggest concrete conservation actions in the context of the systematic assessment of local conditions. For the upcoming years the research group has planned various projects in cooperation with the local communities (Campesinos) to protect not only the Pacaranas but also their natural environment, such as the cloud forests of the Columbian Andes. The following activities are included in the plans of the project:

• Design of a breeding programme to maintain genetic variability

• Enhancing knowledge upon the ecology and behaviour of groups in the wild

• Population surveys and detailed information about the local distribution of the species

• Analysis of local threats

• Building up a new attitude towards the conservation of this species in the local population

International Agreement

In March 2005, a memorandum of agreement was signed by ZGAP, three European zoos and the University of Bogotá. Therein, yearly financial support to the project and, after successful breeding, the export of about ten Pacaranas to European zoos are defined amongst other things. These specimens will be permanent breeding loans with the intention of a combined and coordinated breeding and research programme as part of the conservation strategy for this threatened species.

New conservation centre

Due to the international support the University of Bogotá decided to provide the compound for the construction of a new research centre. New, modern enclosures for the Pacarana colony as well as facilities for education, quarantine, laboratory and veterinary will be constructed. The centre can also be used for future projects or other animal species. One third of the total costs of about 30.000 Euros will be paid by ZGAP including its supporting organisations. The amount of money is already partly secured, but further support would be highly welcome.

Support

Since 2004, ZGAP supports the project financially.
Since March 2005, the Zoo-AG Bielefeld (Bielefeld Zoo Biology Workgroup) adopted the Pacarana project and supports it with the income of its own projects via ZGAP.
Further support is greatly appreciated and urgently needed. Simply make donations to ZGAP with the purpose "Pacarana".

Contact on site:
Karin Osbahr
Unidad de Investigación en Fauna Silvestre
Universidad de Ciencias Aplicadas y Ambientales U.D.C.A.
Bogotá, Colombia
E-Mail: kosbahr@udca.edu.co

Information dated May 2006, all photos on this page by René Wüst.