Yellow Spotted Turtle Repopulation Project Arajuno River, Napo province, Amazon region

 

Introduction

The Arajuno River, located in the upper reaches of the Amazon basin in eastern Ecuador, is an area where indiscriminate fishing with dynamite and other illegal and dangerous practices is putting at risk the health of the local Indigenous Quichua population. The overall result of these fishing practices, coupled with one of the highest deforestation rates in the Ecuadorian Amazon (approximately 2% annually), is a continued degradation of the environment, human health and the local economy. Amongst the Quichua Indians, 40% suffer from chronic malnutrition. The infant mortality rate is 60% for children under the age of 5 years old and 80% of the indigenous population live at or below the official level of poverty established by the Ecuadorian government.

Our conservation projects (minimum 5 volunteers placements):

 

Yellow Spotted Turtle Repopulation Project Healt, food and Biodiversity improvement project

 

 

Once common along the banks of the Arajuno River, the Yellow Spotted Turtle is now listed as an endangered species. In recent years, fishing the river with dynamite, the over-harvesting of turtle eggs and meat, and the continued growth of the Kichwa population in this area has depleted the population and destroyed the habitat of the Yellow-Spotted Turtle.

It has been our experience that treating the symptoms of such complex, multi-faceted problems is a waste of time and money. Adding more turtles to the river without treating the causes of their demise accomplishes nothing. In the hope of addressing the root causes, our partners the Arajuno Foundation has funded this project. Working through the Arajuno Jungle Lodge we hope to accomplish the following goals:

 

1. Reestablish a viable population of Yellow Spotted turtles along the Arajuno River system.
2. Develop an alternative source of protein for the local Kichwa population.
3. Enhance the touristic value of the river by reincorporating this highly visible and popular species along the Rio Arajuno riverbanks as a new component of wildlife observation.
4. Create a new environmental education tool in the Kichwa communities by installing turtle-raising ponds in each community and giving the local people the tools and knowledge necessary to become participants in the project.
5. Restore and protect the riparian zone of the Rio Arajuno riverbanks with Giant Bamboo and Yutzo trees in order to protect the Kichwa communities from flooding and enhance the reproductive conditions necessary to establish and increase the Yellow Spotted Turtles populations on the river.

 

 

To accomplish these goals we have taken these actions:

1. Acquired more than 600 baby Yellow Spotted Turtles from an indigenous-operated breeding facility in the self-sustaining Kichwa rainforest community of Yana Yacu for later release into the Arajuno River system.
2. Established a turtle-breeding and rearing center at the Arajuno Jungle Lodge.
3. Developed an excellent environmental education program focused on the Yellow Spotted Turtles for both tourists and the local population.
4. Acquired a pair of adult breeding turtles from an indigenous-operated breeding facility in order to increase the number of turtles that will be released into the Arajuno River.
5. Established two new rearing ponds in local Kichwa communities and trained the locals in their care and maintenance.
6. Planted bamboo in highly eroded areas along the river to protect its banks.

 

 

Our future plans for this project include:

 

1. Expansion of this program into all Kichwa communities along the Arajuno River and into other river systems.
2. Development of a water-quality monitoring program along the Arajuno River.
3. Development of a watershed management plan for the Arajuno River with the Kichwa people being the primary stake holders.
4. Enhancement of ecotourism and community tourism in all the local communities.

 

Project Fact Box

 

Project:	Yellow Spotted Turtle Repopulation Project (minimum 5 volunteer placements)
Location:	Rio Arajuno communities, Napo Province, Ecuador
Accommodation:	Arajuno jungle lodge volunteer house
Requirements:	Conservation knowleges
Minimum commitment:	2 weeks
School term:	Year around
Project Hours:	Monday to Friday, 8 hours a day
Climate:	Warm – rain forest