Fundacion Ecolombia
 Conserving Colombia's species and their habitats
COLOMBIA
- Home to 10% of the worlds species –
 which means 1 out of every 10 species is found there – including jaguars, tapirs, piranha, spider monkeys and Colombia's largest mammal the spectacled bear.
- Species like the spider monkey have very small populations and are restricted to very small areas.
The second most diverse country in the world with:
- 2003 Red List lists - 141 of Colombia’s animal species as threatened with extinction with at least 20 critically endangered.
The Problem(s):
HABITAT LOSS- Over the last 3 decades Colombia has lost more than 30% of its natural forest with between 1.5-2.2 million acres being destroyed every year.
Only 27% of cloud forest remains. 98% of tropical dry forest has been lost to cattle raising
Economy- Colombian economy is based upon the export of oil, flowers, coffee, bananas – all primary products which cause deforestation.
Poverty, inequality & unemployment- 71% of Colombia's land is owned by just 3% of the elite.
The top 20% of the population earn up to 6 or 7 times more than the bottom 20%
At least 19% of the population live below subsistence level.
Drug Cultivation (& emerald wars) 73%, up to 100,000 acres every year, of the Andes has been lost because of migration and drug cultivation.
Wildlife trade An estimated 350 million live animals are traded around the world every year and Colombia is a leading participator.
90%
of the animals will die before leaving the country. Out of every 100 birds smuggled just one will survive!
Traditional Medicine The Spider monkey is the first animal to be killed for bushmeat, the bones are used in traditional medicine to make a “healing” soup.
Fundacion Ecolombia
Working in La Pintada, Colombia a town with 11,000 inhabitants and an economy based on cattle raising and tourism. Tourism varies throughout the year - significant only in spring, summer and at Christmas holidays.
Extensive cattle raising is known to be one of the economical activities that requires the least employees and because of this people are only employed temporarily and job opportunities are not common.
Cattle raising is also the major cause of the loss of 98.5% of the original area of tropical dry forest in the zone around the town.
Reforestation
You Can only release animals if and when you have somewhere to release them to.
Land Ecolombia currently leases 82 ha of land with a further 100 ha nearby that will be integrated into the project in the future.
Corridors Uniting 2 remnants of forest through biological corridor of planted Tropical dry forest.
Reforestation at la Pintada
Rehabilitation
Fundacion Ecolombia provides a temporary home until animals can be released back into the wild
Red Howler monkey born at the rehabilitation centre
Education
Ecolombia is convinced no reintroduction programme would succeed without the support of the community. A strong education programme with the authorities and the community of La Pintada. Activities include
Schools - I love primates - education awareness
Festivals
workshops
Only those animals which could not survive in the wild remain for education purposes.
Alternative Income
Vital to fight illegal traffic Ecolombia has developed 4 lines of products that are providing employment for the inhabitants of Pintada town and will in the long term support the other activities of the foundation.
Plush production:
Look out for Fundacion Ecolombia products - stuffed toys and soaps in our park shop - The money from which supports the project and people of
Ecolombia.
Check out www.fundacionecolombia.org
for more details.
Please see the other pages below for more
information.
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Latest
News
June 2007
WPF sponsors Red Howler Festival
MORE June
2007 - new wild tigers photographed
and second school opens in Sumatra funded by STT MORE
May 2007
Latest news from Spectacled Bear Project - Peru MORE May
2007 Annual
report from Ecolombia. New babies latest photos
MORE 2007 Latest reports from Tiger patrol teams
in Sumatra MORE
2007 Niger prepares emergency food
aid for 1 million
2007
Latest Pictures of the bears of
Chaparri
Azulina
Cholita
Milagros
Tongo
Rosita
Reque 2007 Are
Niger's giraffes a fading spot on the horizon latest
Peru November
2006
Two new young Andean Bears rescued and
being reared for release into the wild.
Motorbike and Cameras provided for Bear
release programme
Indonesia October 2006
New area of Sumatra is supported by Tiger
Protection units (Bukit Duabelas NP and a very positive new management proposal
for Sumatra put forward to the Indonesian government for providing tiger
protection and monitoring in existing Four large areas in Sumatra.
Colombia August 2006 
Rescued Howler Monkey Released To the Wild - gives birth more
Peru May 2006 Andean Condor release platform
complete more
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The
Wildlife Protection
Foundation
