By Jennifer Boyd | FIWY Development Director
Dear Supporters,
The CIWY team has hardly been able to catch their breath during these past months of fighting fire and rescuing wildlife. Bolivia declared a national emergency on September 7, due to wildfires affecting over nine million acres. We are very saddened that half of Ambue Ari's land was burned, and it appears that fires were intentionally started within the sanctuary more than once.
As you may know, CIWY's Ambue Ari Sanctuary covers an area of 983 hectares, bordered on one side by forested mountains. Thirty percent of the Sanctuary's land is dedicated to rehabilitating rescued wildlife in its natural habitat, while the majority of the land is left untouched. An incredible variety of biodiversity lives in the sanctuary and the surrounding jungle, including an unusually dense population of wild jaguars. Ambue Ari not only protects and rehabilitates wildlife confiscated from illegal trafficking, but also shelters an increasing number of wild animals escaping the deforestation and growth of the surrounding urban sprawl.
In July and August, the firebreaks surrounding the sanctuary proved effective, as did our twice-a-day drone patrol and satellite monitoring. We could focus our efforts on fighting fires further afield and rescuing injured and orphaned wildlife. That in itself was a huge task, on top of CIWY's day-to-day work caring for 500 animals.
Then on August 31, a fire was started in Ambue Ari, right on its perimeter, over a kilometer away from the nearest heat source. The fire was controlled by the sanctuary team and firefighters.
On September 16, smoke was seen on the top of the mountain that Ambue Ari helps to preserve. The Sanctuary team carries out daily patrols and there is an 8-kilometer firebreak trail, so it is unknown how the fire could have reached the top of the mountain. The fire grew quickly and the mountaineous terrain is difficult to navigate. The sanctuary team, along with firefighters and police firefighters had to evacuate the scene the next day. By the 19th, the fire had grown so much that a firebreak had to be opened through the Sanctuary, with the help of a caterpillar, to stop the fire from reaching the animal enclosures. Surveillance was carried out day and night to ensure that the fire did not cross this gap. However, this path left the Sanctuary vulnerable to new fires and hunters. In the end, 2,535 hectares were burned between September 16 and September 26, including 527 hectares of Ambue Ari. The team is devastated to see the whole mountain burned.
The biggest scare for our rescued animals came on October 9, when a fire came alarmingly close to Rala’s and Katie’s enclosures. A veterinarian happened to be performing a check-up on Maggie at 1:30 AM when she came across a fire near the animal enclosures. The team reacted immediately to extinguish the fire, which could otherwise have killed several animals in enclosures that have no way to escape. Also at risk was the clinic, where dozens of animals were being treated and rehabilitated. The following day the team found a pellet and footprints coming up from the river, which suggests the possibility of arson. Ten hectares were burned and the fire came within meters of Rala's enclosure. If it wasn't for that late-night vet check-up, we would be sharing a truly heart-breaking story.
It has become clear that even more security measures are needed to protect Ambue Ari. We know that the Amazon fires are more intense each year, and we must also acknowledge that poachers are increasingly drawn to CIWY's sanctuaries, as wild habitat areas shrink and wildlife populations become more dense in the remaining patches.
CIWY is exploring options that include video cameras, heat sensors, and increased patrolling. Every solution requires funding, of course, and our fire funds have been depleted. The expenses incurred by fires from July to September totalled $28,235. That includes the costs of rescuing and treating 54 wild animals that were victims of the fires.
You can help CIWY prepare for next year by sharing any expertise or connections you might have regarding wildfire protection. You can also join the team on the ground as a volunteer, or you can support our efforts with a donation.
Thank you so much,
Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi
By Ana Lucia Encinas | CIWY Communications Director
By Tania "Nena" Baltazar | CIWY Presidenta y Fundadora / President & Founder
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