GVI.2013.2

MonthlyAchievementReportJalova,May2014

Savingthejaguarandempoweringthelocalcommunity,oneneighbouratatime....Summary:This month GVI Jalova has made a long term, sustainable contribution towards a local issue bysettinguprelationsbetweenourpartner,Panthera-acharitableorganizationleadingthewayinbigcat conservation - and the local community around Tortuguero National Park.Whilst helping ourneighbour resolvehis problemwith livestockpredationby jaguarswehavealso greatly enhancedour own relations with Panthera, learning more about one another and making plans for futureendeavourstogether.Report:

It isanunfortunatefactthateventoday jaguars faceanimosity fromlocalcommunitiesacrosstheentiretyoftheirhomerange–whetherfromthesuperstition´softheindigenouspeoplewhobelievethatjaguarsarecreaturesofimmensepowertobefearedorfromcattleownerswhobelievetheirlivestock tobeunder threat.Modern technologies suchas firearmsandpoisonshaveempoweredlocalcommunitiestofightbackagainstthejaguarsthattheyseeasdamagingtheir livelihoodsandthejaguar-humanconflictnowposesthebiggestthreattotheirdecliningpopulation.

GVI Jalova´s neighbour, Armando Avella, has a small herd of around 30 cattle which contributeequally tohis incomeasdoes the coconutplantation inwhich theygraze. In thepast sixmonths,four of his calves have been taken by jaguars - an unusually large amount compared to the twocalves taken over the previous five years. Staff at GVI Jalova believe that the historically lowpredationratecouldbedueto the fact that thetypicalculpritsof livestockpredation, i.e.oldandinjured jaguars, would be unable to compete in such a small but highly desirable area such asTortugueroNationalPark.Thereasonforthesuddenincreasethispastyearisasyetunclearbutitiscommonlythoughtamongstthestaffthat itmaybetheworkoftwo localcubsthathaverecentlystarted venturing out independently from their mother - calves being the easiest prey availableoutsideofturtleseason.

GVI.2013.2

After hearing ofArmando´s problems, basemanagerMariliana Leotta contacted Roberto Salom-Perez, Panthera’sMesoamerica Jaguar Program Coordinator in Costa Rica, to ask for advice. Before staff at Jalovaknew it a date was fixed for a visit from Rafael Hoogesteijn, Panthera´s Head of Human-JaguarConflictwhoworkscloselywithjaguarsinthePantanal,DanielCorrales-Gutiérrez,ProjectManageroftheHuman-JaguarConflictinCostaRicaandfourotherPantherarepresentativesfromallovertheAmericas–CostaRica,Panama,Brazil,VenezuelaandUSA.

ThevisitorswerewelcomedtoGVI´sresearchstationwithinTortugueroNationalPark.StaffmemberFrank Spooner explained GVI´s aims and objectives, which include helping initiatives such asPantheraachievetheirgoals,andgaveanoverviewoftheJaguarProjectandtheotherprojectsrunatthestation.Theywerethentakenout intothefieldtoadmirethebeautifulanddiversewildlifewithin the park whilst swapping stories with staff of life working in conservation. They wereespeciallyinterestedintheabundanceofjaguartracksclearlyvisiblealongthebeach.

StaffmembersFrankSpoonerandMarcelleMunizaccompaniedthePantheravisitorstoArmando´shouse and made the introductions. Daniel Corrales led the discussion by describing more abouthimself and Panthera. Itwas an interesting process forGVI Staff seeing it firsthand. Daniel askedArmandoquestionsaboutwhatanimalsandtrackshehadseenintheareathenaskedhimtopointatpicturesofthemtoestablishwhichcatsandnaturalpreyspecieswereinthearea.Healsoaskedabout any animals he had seen in the pastwhich he no longer sees. Other questions about howdependant he is uponhis cattle, howhe controlswhere they goduring theday and at night anddetailsaboutthecircumstancesinwhichthecalveshadbeentakenwereaskedtohelpclarifyhowPantheracouldhelpresolveArmando´sproblem.

Figure1–visitorsfromPantherameetingwithArmandoAvella

After the discussion and viewing the land firsthand, the group from Panthera decided the bestsolutionwastoconstructanelectricfencearoundthecattleenclosureandmadeplanstoreturntohelpimplementthissolution,providedtheycouldgetthepermittodosoinsidetheNationalPark.DanielalsogaveArmandoadviceon farmingtechniquestohelphim improveproductivityandthehealthofhiscattlewhichhelpedcreatetrustandrespectbetweenamanwhoselivelihoodisbeingputatriskbyjaguarsandtheconservationgrouptryingtopreservethem.

Thevisitgaveusanopportunity todirectly impact the local communitybyhelpingArmando,whohelpsussomuchandwithoutwhomwecouldnotbehere.Furthmore,DanielandRafaelhaveaskedGVI to put them into contactwith any other cattle owners in the area that theymay be able toassist.ThevisitalsoprovidedagreatopportunityforPantheratoseeourworkoutinthefieldandtolearnmoreaboutGVIandequally forstaffat Jalovato learnmoreaboutourpartnerorganisationandtheirworkaroundtheworld.Lastly,apotentialfuturepartnershipbetweenGVIandPantherainthe Pantanalwas greetedwith enthusiasm and excitement fromboth sides andwill be discussedfurtheronfuturevisits!

KatCutlerandFrankSpooner,PantheraProjectFieldStaff