ARCAS is a Guatemalan NGO dedicated to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. It receives 250 - 500 confiscated animals per year, including white-fronted and red-lored parrots, yellow-naped amazons, scarlet macaws, coatimundis, spider and howler monkeys, iguanas, crocodiles, margays, jaguars, raccoons and kinkajous. This project will support the feeding and medical costs of animals undergoing rehabilitation in ARCAS's three main project sites: the Pacific coast, the altiplano and Peten.
Wildlife trafficking is decimating populations of wild animals throughout Guatemala, especially in the northern Peten region of the country, home to the Maya Biosphere Reserve. The Reserve is the largest remaining tropical forest tract in Mesoamerica and source of much of the wildlife trafficked in the region. The principal animals trafficked in Guatemala are parrots, but other animals such as monkeys, crocodiles, iguanas are also poached and sold on the black market.
ARCAS rescues, rehabilitates and, when possible, releases wild animals confiscated by government authorities from traffickers. It also works with the government to strengthen enforcement of wildlife laws, supporting anti-trafficking patrols and strengthening legislation. It carries out educational activities to address the root causes of wildlife trafficking, and conducts publicity campaigns to highlight the incredible destructiveness of wildlife trafficking.
This project will support the rescue, rehabilitation and release of wild animals at ARCAS's rescue centers. It aims to conserve endangered species and its habitat, preserving this rich legacy of Guatemala for future generations. It supports ecotourism, birdwatching, handicrafts production and other sustainable ways to take advantage of this rich biodiversity without destroying it.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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