Red-billed Currasow at the Crax-Brazil breeding centre
Photo by Nicholas Locke

The completed holding pen at REGUA
Photo by Nicholas Locke

One of the male Red-billed Currasows arriving at REGUA, 4th July 2006
Photo by Nicholas Locke

Black-throated Piping-Guan at Crax-Brazil
Photo by Nicholas Locke

Reintroduction

REGUA has been employing rangers (mostly ex-hunters) to patrol the Atlantic Rainforest falling within the reserve boundary (and also some adjoining areas) since 2001. The rangers continue to patrol daily and as a result, hunting has now been virtually eliminated at the reserve. With hunting controlled the reintroduction of species previously hunted to extinction in the area becomes possible. REGUA is reintroducing the Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii) and plans to follow with the Black-throated Piping-Guan (Pipile jacutinga). These animals will not only aid the recoperation of the forest through seed dispersal but also be a major tourist draw.

The reintroduction of the Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii)

The Organisations Crax-Brazil and REGUA partnered together to start the first Red-billed Curassow (Crax blumenbachii) action plan in the State of Rio de Janeiro.

This is the very first time that this fantastic bird has stepped back into the Rio de Janeiro state after a lapse of approximately thirty years from Desengano Park, located 250km away and as far back as one hundred and twenty years ago in the Guapi Assu region.

The UK company, BIOTRACK supplied the necessary telemetry equipment, which was tested both the field at REGUA and also at the Crax-Brazil project. The transmitters were tested on three positions on the birds, that is the necklaces, back pack and tail mount. This was in order to get an idea on what the best position would be to use on the birds. It was decided that the best method was the back pack position. This is the very first time that a reintroduction of this bird species has used telemetry equipment.

REGUA is adopting a recommended soft release method, through the construction of a very large pen and helping hands in supplementary feeding for them to get back into the wild. The planned chronogram for the 2006 Red-billed Curassow releases is as follows:

May 1st - 10th. The Curassows were monitored at Crax-Brazil without the tags

June 1st - 10th. The Currassows were monitored at Crax-Brazil with the tags

July 4th. Crax-Brazil sent six birds (three males and three females) to REGUA which are held in the pre-release cage for 30 days. The birds recover from the trip and receive the transmitters in this cage.

August 14th. Release the above birds and bring next seven birds from Crax-Brazil and repeat the above process.

Sept 14th. Release above birds and bring final seven birds from Crax-Brazil and repeat the above process.

Dr Christine Steiner, from São Carlos University, São Paulo is studying the birds. She will be monitoring the behavioral ecology of the reintroduced Red-billed Curassow population through radio tracking over a two year period.

This is an absolutely wonderful project and already the local community is very excited at having this important species back in the forests.

To find out more about Christine´s research click here.

Click here to read more about the Red-billed Curassow.

The reintroduction of the Black-throated Piping-Guan (Pipile jacutinga)

Reintroduction of the Black-throated Piping-Guan depends largely on the success of the Red-billed Curassow project. If successful and funds are available, these birds could be walking REGUA´s forests within the next few years.

Click here to read more about the Black-throated Piping-Guan.