SWC2

Saving the Wild ChinchillasEcosystem Restoration North-Central Chile: 

Peter Riger Chair AZA Rodent Taxon Advisory Group Amy Deane President Save the Wild Chinchillas Inc. www.wildchinchillas.org amy_deane@yahoo.com Saving the Wild Chinchillas Ecosystem Restoration North-Central Chile

Overall Objectives: 

Overall Objectives Main goal - to ensure that endangered long-tailed chinchillas (C. lanigera) do not become extinct. Ecosystem restoration - propagating native vegetation, some of which are threatened, around existing chinchilla colonies. To benefit other dependent fauna, which are endemic. To help curb grazing and other habitat degrading activities.

Overall Objectives: 

Overall Objectives To actively involve the local people in restoration efforts. To promote environmental awareness amongst the local public, especially children. Working towards establishing a field school that ensures sustained protection of this ecosystem.

Ecosystem Restoration & Alternative Agricultural Resources in North-Central Chile: 

Ecosystem Restoration & Alternative Agricultural Resources in North-Central Chile

Project Goals: 

Project Goals Recreate essential habitat for endangered chinchillas Recreate other natural vegetative communities (e.g. creek vegetation that enhances a cooler environment for chinchillas upslope, aids in combating global warming on a chinchilla scale) Facilitate exclusive livestock grazing areas

Project Goals: 

Project Goals Habitat being defined by vegetal studies in existing chinchilla colonies (30 years of studies) Focus on species that we know chinchillas consume within these colonies (30 years of knowledge) Emergency care until we can determine the nature of chinchilla habitat before severe human induced landscape changes

Wild Chinchillas: 

Wild Chinchillas Once believed extinct, the only known wild Chinchilla lanigera exist in north central Chile (Jiménez, 1995). This endemic species experienced dramatic decrease in its population and range An estimated 21 million were killed in less than 60 years for the fur trade and the population has yet to recover (Albert, 1901; Jiménez, 1996). Chinchillas are endangered and protected by CITES (Glade, 1988; IUCN, 1972).

Wild Chinchillas: 

Wild Chinchillas Population estimates vary from 3000 to approximately 5000 (Jiménez, 1995; Mohlis, personal communication, 1999). Over 17 years (1983-1990), a dramatic decrease in the spatial coverage of colonies occurred (Mohlis 1983 and Jiménez 1995). Previous researchers identified the distribution and characterized typical habitat for chinchillas (Mohlis 1983, Jiménez 1990, 1995, Deane non-published data).

Chinchilla brevicaudata : 

Chinchilla brevicaudata Critically Endangered Shorter ears and tail than C. lanigera

Chinchilla lanigera colony, R.N. Las Chinchillas, Aucó, IV Región : 

Chinchilla lanigera colony, R.N. Las Chinchillas, Aucó, IV Región

Problems: 

Problems Uncontrolled chinchilla hunting until believed extinct Estimated 21 million animals killed in 60 years Population not able to recover due to natural history traits Reproduction of Chinchillas long gestation (110 days), small litters (1 or 2), sexual maturity (8 months)

Desertification: 

Desertification Fuel wood use, ore processing, and agriculture in the past Current mining and agricultural practices All areas have been severely affected by resource exploitation. Many hill slopes have little vegetation and hardly any native tree species can be seen.

Agriculture as a Human Land Use: 

Agriculture as a Human Land Use Abandoned farms and mines Continued firewood collection for heating, bathing and cooking by the poorest people in Chile (IV Region) Free ranging livestock: Decrease in livestock (9000 animals in 1983 to 1800 in 2000), and farms, but no one has tried to restore native vegetation Introduced rabbits and hares consume vegetation essential for the native fauna especially endangered long-tailed chinchillas.

Habitat Fragmentation: 

Habitat Fragmentation Isolating not only chinchilla colonies but has created isolated patches of habitat for all wildlife species Small populations and limited mobility have a higher probability of extinction

Restoration: 

Restoration Creating habitat by growing native plant species that serve as food, cover and shelter for chinchillas, also aids in the conservation of other plant and animal species in the community such as Degus (Octodon degus), the Chinchilla rat (Abrocoma bennetti), and Cururos (Spalacopus cyanus) that only occur here in central Chile.

Restoration: 

Restoration Many of the plant species are also of conservation concerns and by collecting seeds from different locales, we are ensuring genetic diversity.

Las Chinchillas National Reserve: 

Las Chinchillas National Reserve Formed in 1983 – covers 4,229 ha 15 species of predominant mammals and 35 species of avifauna including: Chinchilla Chinchilla lanigera Pampas Cat Felis colocola (endangered) Leaf eared Mouse Phylottis darwinii Little Grison Galictis cuja Coruro – Spalacopus cyanus Tinamou – Northoprocta perdicaria Giant Hummingbird – Patagona gigas Andean condor – Vultur gryphus

Las Chinchillas National Reserve: 

Las Chinchillas National Reserve Darwins Leaf-eared Mouse Phylottis darwini Cururo Spalacopus cyanus

Las Chinchillas National Reserve: 

Las Chinchillas National Reserve Pampas Cat Felis colocolo Andean Condor Vultur gryphus

North American Zoo Population (ISIS): 

North American Zoo Population (ISIS) Chinchilla brevicaudata 12.12.2 in 12 institutions Chinchilla lanigera 118.109.28 in 95 institutions Equal to 300 individuals with a large percentage maintained in education programs Domestic pet trade: possibly tens of thousands in private hands

Plants, Seedling and Seed Sources: 

Plants, Seedling and Seed Sources Our Nursery The Local Community (friends, farmers & workers) Road cut collecting

Road cut collecting: 

Road cut collecting Along the dirt roads many species of concern to us, germinate and grow only to be cut down when the dirt roads undergo repairs We collect these seedlings and use for restoration BONUS - very cheap financially and ecologically we don’t have to collect seeds and grow the plants from germination we don’t waste time, space, soil, or water resources on seeds that wouldn’t have germinated

Our Nursery: 

Our Nursery Seed collection from different drainage basins Creating and maintaining seed beds Seedlings transplanted into plastic bags or modified bottles that promote high root to shoot ratios & deep root development (bottles donated from Coca-Cola in Illapel, Chile - surplus non-returnable bottles, disposed bottles) Can be used in nursery for the same seedling for a few years

Our Nursery: 

Our Nursery Decrease heat in the nursery because the bottles are transparent Commercially available black plastic seedling bags add heat and deteriorate in two years

Our Nursery: 

Our Nursery Water source is a perennial contour canal that runs along the nursery The bottles are placed into square depressions into the soil - irrigate by filling the square hole until the area is full (five feet square and 1 foot deep) Water is absorbed by the roots bottom of bottle to the top thus ensuring the entire soil area is irrigated

From Nursery to Restoration Site : 

From Nursery to Restoration Site In some areas we built fences when funding - helps exclude livestock (goats, sheep cows, horses and donkeys) Holes dug a little deeper than seedling container size (~ 1.5 feet) - dug with a large crowbar and a tuna-can A little soil is backfilled, a handful of topsoil is added, with/without natural fertilizer Water is added before seedling is sown; this is covered with soil before adding more water and moist soil

From Nursery to Restoration Site: 

From Nursery to Restoration Site A dirt semicircle that collects rainwater surface flow Rock mulch is used from nearby Adds shade to the seedling Accumulates condensation- natural irrigation Each seedling has a protective fence majority of grazing by exotic (non-native) rabbits and hares As of 2004, plants are currently being measured and tagged to quantify establishment, growth, and survivorship

Restoration Sites : 

Restoration Sites Habitat creation - establishing a new area for chinchillas that exist between colonies or suitable habitat Habitat extension - expanding currently occupied areas in hopes of expanding chinchilla colonies Corridors - areas connecting existing chinchilla colonies and with abandoned/extinct colonies to promote dispersal and colonization of new areas

Project Progress: 

Project Progress Began in year 2000 with funding obtained for a nursery in November Learned the nature of local plant species - their successful germination and sustenance (problems with Ephedra and Puya spp.) Learned what species need what kind of protection from predation Have planted approximately 4000 seedlings- three expansion areas, two new habitat areas, and one corridor

Project Progress: 

Project Progress Many plants need years to grow before are suitable for chinchilla habitat ~Vslow growing desert species However, some plants have gone to seed in the second year. And these do serve as food. Grass species are usable within the same planting season and chinchillas preferred food.

Project Progress: 

Project Progress Gained community support and assistance -donations of tools, time and seedlings from local farmers Our project takes place on communally owned lands. We hire within this community for help in this project! Raised $24000 for this project ($14000 in the last couple of months)

Area near Aucó: 

Area near Aucó

Chinchilla feces indicate their presence: 

Chinchilla feces indicate their presence

The Puya plant under which the chinchillas spend their daytime: 

The Puya plant under which the chinchillas spend their daytime

A Puya bloom: 

A Puya bloom

Support: 

Support ØAct for Nature (Monaco) Conservation Technology Support Program (CTSP) (United State of America) Lemmon Foundation (United State of America) Rufford Small Grants(for Nature Conservation) (RSG) (United Kingdom) Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Population (ZGAP) (Germany)

Contact Information: 

Contact Information SALVE LAS CHINCHILLAS SILVESTRES  SAVE THE WILD CHINCHILLAS, INC. Amy Deane Casilla 302, Illapel IV Region, Chile www.wildchinchillas.org