Annual Report - Hugh Paxton's Blog · 11/06/2012 · WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION...

WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION 2011 Annual Report

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2011 was a challenging year, with the predictable disruptions brought about by national elections whichsaw the election of Otto Perez Molina as president, signaling a shift to the right after the left-leaningadministration of Alvaro Colom. It was a relatively smooth election though, further consolidatingdemocracy and the rule of law in Guatemala. Starting in October we began to see the effects of theglobal financial crisis firsthand with a drop-off in the number of volunteers and, simultaneously, a rise infood and fuel costs, which has put serious strains on ARCAS’s budget. The cost of living has increasedsignificantly in Guatemala, affecting especially the majority (53%) of the population living below thepoverty line and surviving on under $4 per day. Together with its colleagues in the environmental NGOsector, ARCAS watches with concern as international donor funding for conservation continues to dryup. As if that weren’t enough, thanks to several scandals involving phony NGOs established byunscrupulous congressmen, the few Guatemalan donors that still offer funding make life nearly impossiblewith burdensome reporting requirements. ARCAS also saw with concern the reduction by 10% of thebudget of its governmental counterpart, the National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP), whichadministers the National Protected Areas System (SIGAP). Miriam continues her very important workon the CONAP council, lobbying to maintain the viability of these institutions and monitoring mining andother large-scale projects.

The physical environment in 2011 was also challenging. The country was not yet recovered from TropicalStorm Agatha and the eruption of the Pacaya Volcano in 2010, when in September it was shaken by severalearthquakes, and in October was hit by TropicalDepression 12-E prompting the government to declare astate of public calamity.

At ARCAS, we were able to survive this challengingyear thanks to the help of our volunteers and donors, aswell as to our dedicated staff who, despite less-than-competitive wages, no benefits and a non-stop workschedule, are united in their desire to preserve thebiodiversity of Guatemala. Our many thanks to all ofyou!

20112011201120112011AnnualAnnualAnnualAnnualAnnualReportReportReportReportReport

An ARCAS first! An ARCAS first! An ARCAS first! An ARCAS first! An ARCAS first!

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PETEN

In February, 2011 we received an infant female tamandúa oranteater (Tamandua mexicana) at the Rescue Center in Peten.After being weaned from milk and going through a quarantineperiod, ARCAS staff and volunteers, began a process of trialand error, experimenting with over 20 different diets, to find adiet both nutritionally balanced and acceptable to the tamandua,finally agreeing on a diet consisting of dried dog food, humanbaby formula and watermelon. Later, termites and ants wereintroduced and, eventually, the tamandua was fed whole termitenests, initially seasoned with the diet and then she learned toextract the termites on her own. Volunteers and staff took heron regular walks so she could learn how to forage and climbtrees, and after reaching full size, she was introduced into a naturalenclosure where she could forage on her own. In July, 2011,we received another tamandua which after quarantine wasintroduced into the first tamandua’s enclosure where by imitationshe quickly learned how to forage and climb trees and findprotected sleeping hollows in trees. In February, 2012, the twotamanduas were released on the grounds of the Rescue Center

where they are spotted occasionally bystaff and volunteers. These twotamanduas are the first anteaterssuccessfully rehabilitated by ARCAS.Being specialists, they are a speciesnotoriously difficult to rehabilitate.

Thanks to the help of our friends Brooke and Pepe at SnowMango, wehave a newly updated ARCAS website. With them, we have also cre-ated a new website entitled Bird Watch Guatemala (http://www.birdwatchguatemala.com/) where we hope to organizebirdwatching tours aimed specifically at supporting ARCAS’s avian con-servation efforts.

A First for ARCAS!A First for ARCAS!A First for ARCAS!A First for ARCAS!A First for ARCAS!


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Animals recieved by ARCAS in 201 1Common name/nombre común Scientific name/ Peten Guate Total

nombre científicoTOTAL MAMMALS/Mamíferos 78 2 80White-tailed Deer/Venado Cola Blanca Odocoileus virginianus 37 0 37Howler Monkey/Mono Saraguate Alouatta pigra 12 0 12Spider monkey/Mono araña Ateles geoffroyii 6 0 6Gray Fox/Zorra gris Urocyon cinereoargenteus 6 1 7Coatimundi/Pizote Nasua narica 5 0 5Kinkajou/Micoleón Potos flavus 3 0 3Tamandua/Tamandua, Oso hormiguero Tamandua mexicana 3 0 3Collared Peccary/Coche de monte Tayassu tajacu 3 0 3White-lipped Peccary/Pecarí de Labio Blanco Tayassu pecari 1 0 1Squirrel/Ardilla Sciurus yucatanensis 1 0 1Nutria/Nutria Lontra longicaudis 1 0 1Spotted skunk/Zorrillo Spilogale putorius 0 1 1TOTAL BIRDS/Aves 115 5 120Red-fronted Parrot/Loro Frente Roja Amazona autumnalis 30 2 32White-fronted Parrot/Loro Frente Blanca Amazona albifrons 21 1 22Scarlet Macaw/Guacamaya Roja Ara macao 16 0 16White-crowned Parrot/Cotorra Cabeza Blanca Pionus senilus 6 0 6Aztec Parakeet/Perica Azteca Aratinga aztec 6 0 6Orange-fronted parakeet/Perica guayabera Aratinga canicularis 6 0 6Mealy parrot/Loro cabeza azul Amazona farinosa 3 0 3Green macaw/Guacamaya Verde Ara ambiguus 3 0 3Barn owl/Lechuza Tyto alba 3 0 3Yellow-lored Amazon/Loro oreja parda Amazona xantholora 2 0 2Keel-billed toucan/Tucan real Ramphastos sulfuratus 2 0 2Black-bellied Whistling-duck/Pijije Dendrocygna autumnalis 2 0 2Crested guan/Cojolita Penelope purpurascens 2 0 2Pacific Parakeet/Maicera Aratinga Holochclora 0 1 1Orange-chinned parakeet/Perica señorita Brotogeris jugularis 0 1 1Band-tailed pigeon/Paloma Columba fasciata 1 0 1Masked Tityra/Titira Tityra semifasciata 1 0 1Hawk/Gavilan N/A 1 0 1Collared aracari/Tucancillo Pteroglossus torquatus 1 0 1Common road hawk/Gavilan del camino Buteo magnirostris 1 0 1Broadwinged hawk/Halcon alas anchas Buteo platypterus 1 0 1Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl/Buho Pigmeo Glaucidium brasilianum 1 0 1Central American pygmy owl/Buho Pigmeo Glaucidium griseiceps 1 0 1Boat-billed heron/Garza Pico de Zapato Cochearius cochlearius 1 0 1Orange-breasted falcon/Halcon Pechinaranja Falco deiroleucus 1 0 1Harpy Eagle/Aguila Arpia Harpia harpyja 1 0 1Collared falcon/Halcon de Collar Micrastur semitorcuatus 1 0 1Northern potoo/Pajaro palo Nictidius jamaicencis 1 0 1TOTAL REPTILES 141 0 141Mesoamerican Slider/Tortuga Jicotea Trachemys scripta 101 0 101Moreleti’s Crocodile/Cocodrilo moreleti Crocodylus moreleti 11 0 11Boa/mazacuata Boa constrictor 8 0 8Mexican musk turtle/Tortuga tres filos Staurotypus triporcatus 7 0 7Furrowed Wood Turtle/Tortuga del Bosque Rhinoclemmys areolata 3 0 3Iguana/Iguana Iguana iguana 2 0 2Common snapping turtle/Tortuga Lagarto Chelidra serpentina 2 0 2South American rattlesnake/Cascabel Crotallus durisus 2 0 2Tigre racer snake/Chichicua Spilotes pullatus 1 0 1White-lipped mud turtle/Tortuga Casquito K leucostonum 1 0 1Narrow-lipped musk turtle/Tortuga Chiquiguau Claudios angustatus 1 0 1Indigo snake/Serpiente Indigo Drymarchon corais 1 0 1Green Vine Snake/Bejuquillo Oxibelis fulgidus 1 0 1

TOTAL ANIMALS RECEIVED IN 2010 334 7 341

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Date Common name No. Age Release Site08/01/11 Broad-winded hawk/Halcon alas anchas 1 Juvenile Rescue Center08/02/11 Boa/Mazacuata 1 Juv Rescue Center10/02/11 Indigo snake/ Serpiente indigo 1 Juv Rescue Center11/02/11 Howler monkey/ Mono saraguate 1 Ad Rescue Center19/02/11 Racer snake/ Chichicua 1 Ad Rescue Center02/03/11 Nutria/Nutria 1 Juv Peten Itza Lake19/04/11 Tamandua/ Oso hormiguero 1 Adult Rescue Center03/05/11 Howler monkey/ Mono saraguate 1 Adult Rescue Center10/05/11 Howler monkey/ Mono saraguate 1 Adult Rescue Center25/05/11 Iguana 1 Juv Rescue Center07/06/11 White-lipped mud turtle/ Tortuga Casquito 1 Adult Los Lagos, Santa Elena07/06/11 Mesoamerican Slider/Tortuga Jicotea 78 Adult Los Lagos, Santa Elena07/06/11 Moreleti’s Crocodile/Cocodrilo moreleti 2 Juv Los Lagos, Santa Elena07/06/11 Moreleti’s Crocodile/Cocodrilo moreleti 5 Adult Los Lagos, Santa Elena07/06/11 Mexican musk turtle/Tortuga tres filos 6 Adult Los Lagos, Santa Elena08/06/11 Iguana 1 Juv Rescue Center09/06/11 Boa/Mazacuata 2 Adult Yaxha National Park09/06/11 Margay 3 Adult Yaxha National Park09/06/11 Coatimundi/Pizote 2 Adult Yaxha National Park09/06/11 Keel-billed toucan/Tucan real 1 Adult Yaxha National Park15/06/11 Squirrel/Ardilla 1 Juv Rescue Center10/07/11 Green Vine Snake/Bejuquillo 1 Juv Rescue Center23/07/11 Kinkajou/Micoleon 1 Adult Rescue Center10/08/11 Spider Monkey/Mono arana 10 Adult Quexil Lake12/08/11 Mealy parrot/Loro cabeza azul 2 Adult Mirador-Rio Azul National Park12/08/11 Red-fronted Parrot/Loro Frente Roja 57 Adult Mirador-Rio Azul National Park12/08/11 White-fronted Parrot/Loro Frente Blanca 18 Adult Mirador-Rio Azul National Park

TOTAL ANIMALS RELEASED 201

Animal releases in Peten, ARCAS, 2011

ARCAS realizes that one of the keys to saving Guatemalanwildlife and habitat is helping to meet the developmental needsof human communities that influence that wildlife and habitat.In collaboration with the Rotary Foundation, the Palo AltoRotary Club, and the Club Rotario del Este, ARCAS is

implementing its third Justa efficient wood-burning stove project in thecommunities near the Cerro Alux reserve on the outskirts of GuatemalaCity. The Justa stove reduces firewood consumption by up to 70% andreduces respiratory illnesses by removing woodsmoke from the home.Special thanks to Walt Hayes, Eliane and Armand Neukermans, andEdgar Maselli for their help with this project!

Efficient wood-burning stove project

Fausta Jicha (left), our communityorganizer in the community ofAguacate, and Silvia Colindras whotook the extra effort to tile her stove.


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One of the most endangered species of wildlife in the MayanForest is the scarlet macaw (Ara macao). Less than 500individuals are thought to remain in the wild in Guatemala,Belize and Mexico. This is truly a critically-endangeredpopulation, especially considering that the scarlet macaw’shistoric range stretches from the southern US to southernBrazil, and includes a Pacific coast population that has beennearly extirpated in Central America.

With the support of theCincinnatti Zoo, theOakland Zoos andJakob Frost, ARCAScontinues to contribute to efforts to save the Mayan macaw. Since 2004,it has successfully fledged 39 chicks in its scarlet macaw captive breedingprogram with the aim of using these birds to augment existing wildpopulations and/or reintroduce macaws into areas of the Maya BiosphereReserve where they no longer exist. ARCAS also assists in macaw rescue,conservation and research activities carried out in the Reserve. Togetherwith Fundacion Defensores de la Naturaleza, it is planning to reintroducecaptive-bred macaws into the Sierra Lacandon National Park.

The scarlet macaw is an emblematic species of the Mayan Forest, asimportant for its cultural symbolism as an indicator of health for one of thelast truly wild places in the Americas.

SCARLET MACA WS

In September, Dr. Alejandro Morales, ARCAS Peten assistantdirector, was invited to Eckerd College in Florida to give presentationsto veterinary students interested in pursuing a career in tropical wildlifemanagement. ARCAS has had a three year relationship with EckerdCollege who sends ecotours groups and individual volunteers to itsRescue Center in Peten. Alejandro took advantage of the invitationto visit other ARCAS friends and donors in the US, givingpresentations at the Columbus and Cincinnatti Zoos, the Ohio WildlifeCenter, Tampa University, University of Central Florida, and St.Petersburg College. At right, Alejandro with Jenny Gainer y Dr. Gregory

Levens of the Cincinnatti Zoo. Jenny has for the last several years,coordinated support from the zoo for ARCAS’s scarlet macaw conservation program.

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Hawaii Sea Turtle and Mangrove Conservation

It was an unusual sea turtle nesting season inHawaii this year! In May 2011 we experiencedthe worst stranding incident ever recorded on thePacific coast of Guatemala with the death of 36olive ridley sea turtles. The turtles we found stillalive were malnourished and dehydrated and evenwith force-feeding and antibiotic treatment, nonesurvived. We sent tissue samples off to Dr. Thierry

Work at the National Wildlife Health Center in Hawaii(USA) for pathological analysis but he couldn’t assigna definitive cause of death. Our friends at Akazul areputting together a final report on this stranding and wewould like to organize a workshop to train our colleaguesin handling stranded turtles and to develop a strandingnetwork in Guatemala.

After this stranding incident, the nesting seasonbegan normally in mid-July. On September 16thwe had what could only be described as a mini-arribada, counting 84 nests near the Hawaiihatchery, and another 40 nests in El Rosario. Itwas really a remarkable day of nesting. The surplusof eggs drove the price down to Q8 per dozen andmany egg buyers stopped purchasing eggs. TwoPacific green sea turtle nests were documented inHawaii and in La Barrona. The first documentedgreen sea turtle nest in Guatemala was in 2008 inHawaii. Could it be that their habitat is shifting?

One of the most striking birds in the Hawaii area is theTorqouise-browed mot mot (Eumomota superciliosa)which nests in holes in embankments on the ChiquimulillaCanal

The Minnesota Zoo ecotour group posing with a nestingolive ridley sea turtle at the Parque Hawaii, August, 2011

A photograph comparing a Pacific green (left) andolive ridley hatchling.


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With the support of the USAID Regional Program for the Management of Acuatic Resources andEconomic Alternatives and the Eastern PacificHawksbill Initiative (ICAPO), ARCAS carriedout a Situational Analysis of sea turtle conservationefforts in Guatemala, putting special emphasis onthe egg donation system and its short- and long-term sustainability. Among the principal findingsof the Analysis:

• Although they are essential in order tosupport the donation system, most sea turtlehatcheries in Guatemala lack the human,technical and logistical resources necessary toincubate eggs and collect data in a scientificmanner, and few take full advantage of thehatchery’s potential as an environmentaleducation tool.

• In 2010, only 50% of the Guatemalancoastline was covered by operating hatcheries.Major gaps exist in Champerico and Tecojate onthe Pacific coast, and Punta Manabique on theCaribbean.

• Olive ridley nesting density is much higher in the southeast of the country than in the southwest, withthe peak area being Hawaii, followed by La Barrona and Candelaria.

• Given this relativity in nesting density and taking into consideration crawl counts carried out in asystematic fashion in the Hawaii area since 2003, an estimated 673,304 olive ridley eggs are laid each year onthe Pacific coast of Guatemala with a beach, or wholesale, value of Q1,124, 869 or $148,007, lower thanprevious estimates.

• From 2003 to 2010, sea turtle conservationists in Guatemala have been able to increase the numberof eggs rescued from 60,000 to almost 180,000, largely through support from the private sector (hotels, ecotourists ...) for the purchase of eggs. Although 50% of the coast lacked a hatchery, in 2010 26% of eggs laidon the Pacific coast were rescued.

• This Analysis found no evidence of hawksbill sea turtles nesting on the Pacific coast of Guatemala,but recent years have seen the first documented nestings of black or Pacific green sea turtles (Cheloniamydas agassazi) in the southeast and it is possible that the range of this species is shifting.

• Nor did this Analysis find evidence of significant use of sea turtle meat, shells or other parts eitheron the Caribbean or Pacific coasts, though the use of meat as bait by shark fishermen off the southwest coastremains a persistent rumor.

• There exists legal ambiguity regarding the egg donation system given the fact that it has nolegislative foundation and the few measures of control that exist regarding the use of sea turtles aretemporary and informal.

Sea Turtle Situation in Guatemala

The Situational Analysis included site visits and an interviewsurvey to all the sea turtle hatcheries in Guatemala, as wellas other points of interest such as markets, border crossingsand fisherman’s associations. Here, Colum Muccio is inter-viewing Julian Arana, a member of the Garifuna fisherman‘scooperative in Livingston.

(Continued on next page)

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The mangroves of the Hawaii area are the natural resource base on which over4,000 Guatemalans of 7 different communities directly depend. They provide habitatfor fishing and ecotourism, wood for roof construction and firewood, as well asother less tangible but equally important environmental services such as a barrieragainst storms and erosion, the production of oxygen, absorption of CO2 and a filterfor pollution. If managed well, these mangroves should continue to provide theseenvironmental services for future generations.

With the support of the Guatemalan government’sNature Conservation Fund (FONACON), ARCASis expanding its efforts to monitor the mangroves ofHawaii. It will be creating a standardized systemto permanently monitor the health of the mangrovesby taking data on water quality, flora and fauna,and forest mass. These activities are an expansionof mangrove monitoring research carried out underprevious projects supported by the RuffordFoundation and the FAO. The FONACON projectalso includes environmental education activitiesaimed at teaching local children about theimportance of conserving the mangroves and othernatural resources of the Hawaii area.

This Situational Analysispresents inputs needed forupdating the National SeaTurtle Strategy and guidesfuture decision-makingregarding the conservation ofthe marine turtle inGuatemala. AlthoughGuatemala has beenquestioned for openlyallowing the use of sea turtleeggs, it is also not clearwhether the bans that havebeen imposed in other CentralAmerican countries in recentyears will be sustainable in the long term. Any conservation scheme requires sustainable funding andGuatemala’s challenge is how to strengthen efforts to rescue more sea turtle eggs and create a lessambiguous legal environment while facilitating private sector participation in these efforts.

A workshop was held in February, 2012 in Hawaii, bringing together 40stakeholders in sea turtle conservation in Guatemala to socialize the preliminaryfindings of the Analysis.

Hawaii Mangrove Monitoring


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HAWAII - Sea Turtle Conservation and ResearchARCAS continues its leadership in seaturtle conservation in Guatemala,consistently collecting the most eggsand the most thorough data of the 21hatcheries in the country. In 2011, itcollected nearly 46,000 sea turtle eggsbetween its Hawaii and El Rosariohatcheries, accounting for over 30% ofthe total of eggs rescued in the country.This egg collection was only possiblethanks to the hard work of Eduardo andMariachi, and to participants in ourSponsor-a-Nest program. The 2012conservation season is upon us, so ifyou can contribute to the program, letus know. From 2003 to 2010, seaturtle conservationists in Guatemalahave been able to increase the totalnumber of eggs rescued from 60,000to almost 180,000, largely throughsupport from the private sector (hotels,eco tourists ...) for the purchase of eggs.

Thanks to Trent Hodges, who during his two years of serviceas a Peace Corps Volunteer, implemented various projectsin support of the fishing communities of the Hawaii area,including the construction of a schoolroom in Las Mañanitasusing the “ecobrick” technique using plastic waste, theformation and training of a group of lifeguards to preventdrownings on area beaches, and the initiation of a fisheriesmonitoring program and the construction and equipping ofthe headquarters of the Las Mañanitas Fisherman’sAssociation. Trent will be sorely missed!

SUMMARY OF ARCAS HATCHERY DATA, 2011

HAWAII HATCHERY

Total olive ridley sea turtle eggs buried 41,258

Total olive ridley hatchlings released 39,195

Olive ridley hatching success rate 95.00%

Total leatherback eggs buried 0

Total leatherback hatchlings released 0

EL ROSARIO HATCHERY

Total olive ridley sea turtle eggs buried 4,673

Total olive ridley hatchlings released 3,984

Hatching success rate 85.26%

Leatherback eggs buried 0

Total Eggs Rescued by ARCAS in 2011 45,931

Total Hatchlings Released 43,179

Trent inaugurating the headquarters of the LasMañanitas fisherman’s association together withChiquimulilla mayor “Chepeleque and theassociation’s queen.

SPONSOR A NEST!!!SPONSOR A NEST!!!SPONSOR A NEST!!!SPONSOR A NEST!!!SPONSOR A NEST!!! Each year, ARCAS raises money under its Sponsor-a-Nest program. Volunteersand staff at the Parque Hawaii wait until the height of the nesting season when the price of olive ridley sea turtle eggs dropsto approximately US$10 per nest, and then buy as many nests as possible. This allows ARCAS to concentrate scantresources on the peak of the nesting season, usually between mid-August and mid-October. Let us know if you areinterested in sponsoring a nest.

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2011 saw the departure of Eduardo Merida, who served as theARCAS South Coast Director for the last five years and who resignedin December due to family reasons. Eduardo, though a forestryspecialist, developed a fondness for sea turtles and during his reign atthe Parque Hawaii, helped boost egg production at the hatchery from30,000 to 46,000 eggs!!! Together with Eva Oleksinska he alsoinitiated our mangrove monitoring project. Good luck in the futureEduardo!

The Columbus Zoo helped create the Rescue Center in 1990 and hasbeen one of ARCAS’s most faithful supporters ever since. Zoo staffmembers are constantly looking for creative ways to help ARCASand the many other conservation projects they support around the

world. One of these creativeefforts is the ConservationChallenge, a programdeveloped by the Education Department at the Zoo that works withteachers and students in the Columbus, Ohio area to integrateconservation into their curriculum and ignite in students a passionfor wild animals. Students are challenged to raise $1000 and oncethey meet this goal, Zoo staff hold a celebration highlighting all theirhard work. All the money raised goes directly to the conservationproject.

In 2012, two Conservation Challenge groups chose to supportARCAS‘s Hawaii sea turtle and mangrove project on the Pacificcoast of Guatemala. The 8th graders at Canal Winchester MiddleSchool in Canal Winchester, Ohio raised money through a pennywars competition where home room classes vied to accumulate themost coins. They also held a sea turtle-themed school dance. Theother group was led by 10 year old Johnny Shoemaker fromHopewell, Ohio, who with the support of his family, local BoyScouts, Girl Scouts, Roots and Shoots (a conservation groupestablished by Jane Goodall) and members of his church andcommunity, raised money for the sea turtles. (The Girl Scout groupdonated the proceeds from their cookie sales).

Columbus Zoo Conservation Challenge

The artist at the Columbus Zoocreated a life-sized replica of aleatherback turtle named Harley andthe students monitored her as shelaid her eggs and tagged her. Here,Brianne Warthman, SchoolPrograms Instructor at the Zoo, isgiving a presentation on sea turtleswith Harley.


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Volunteers

The ARCAS volunteer program continues toaccount for roughly half of it’s annual income andhas allowed it to survive in an increasingly difficultdonor environment. 410 volunteers from 22 differentcountries (including our first from Sri Lanka!)supported the Rescue Center and the Hawaii SeaTurtle project with 6,553 days of work, and roughly$120,000 of income. Volunteer-sending agencies,including Real Gap, See Turtles and OriginalVolunteers, continue to send volunteers, though themajority are recruited directly by ARCAS. Wecontinue to benefit especially from the hard workand dedication of long-term volunteers. We had ateary-eyed going-away for Peace Corps VolunteerTrent Hodges on the occasion of the inauguration of

the Las MañanitasF i s h e r m a n ’sA s s o c i a t i o nh e a d q u a r t e r s .Alice Lee, now aresident of Hawaii,c o n t i n u e ss u p p o r t i n gARCAS’s seaturtle conservationactivities. A specialthanks to AlisonMulford (left) ofM a d i s o nConnecticut, USA,who served forover one year as volunteer coordinator and chief Monkey Mother at the RescueCenter. We are recieving many veterinary students from the San CarlosUniversity who come to the Rescue Center for practical experience workingwith tropical animals. Thanks to you all!

*** (See budget on next page) As a service to its col-leagues in the environmental sector in Guatemala,ARCAS has begun taking on the administration ofprojects being carried out in different parts of the coun-try with funding from the National Conservation Fund(FONACON). In 2011, ARCAS administeredFONACON projects being carried out by the Conser-vation Studies Center (CECON) of the national SanCarlos University and CONAP, including a reforesta-tion project of areas around Lake Atitlan to try to counterthe threat of the cynobacteria bloom there, the creationof municipal parks and educational trails in Lake Atitlan,and the renovation of the Monterrico sea turtle hatcheryand nature reserve.

COUNTRY # VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER DAYSUK 100 1816Germany 50 1150USA 56 1038New Zealand 4 535Denmark 21 328Holland 10 288Canada 47 281Switzerland 7 189Spain 6 135Australia 14 128Guatemala 52 122Italy 6 90Austria 4 89Norway 4 71Israel 6 57France 7 53Sweden 3 52Belgium 9 50Sri Lanka 1 42Mexico 1 31Argentina 1 6El Salvador 1 2TOTAL 410 6553

The renowned beauty of Lake Atitlani s being threat-ened by a cynobacteria bloom produced by the run-offof agricultural chemicals and sewage. ARCAS is col-laborating in efforts to reforest the watershed to preventrun-off.

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WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION 2011 Annual Report2011 Financial Report

Income US$* QInternationalVolunteer and Ecotourism Fees Peten (Includes Tikal trips and airfare) 52,144 417,153Columbus Zoo 15,926 127,411Humane Society International/U.S. State Department (CAFTA-DR) 10,472 83,778Volunteer and Ecotourism Fees Hawaii 7,718 61,744Cincinnatti Zoo 3,000 24,000Oakland Zoo 3,000 24,000Eliane and Armand Neukermans (Palo Alto Rotary Club, stove project) 2,000 16,000Private donations Andrews Dyas 3,000 24,000 Jakob Frost 1,370 10,963 Amcor, Luca Marler 1,947 15,576 Jan Webber (El abuelito) 1,304 10,432 Janice Moskowitz 1,000 8,000 Sharon Shields 1,000 8,000 Gabriel Schnitzer 500 4,000 Rosemary Collard (Collard family) 412 3,296 Stuart Hunt 350 2,800 Moira Muccio 250 2,000 Francisco Estrada Belli 200 1,600 Miscellaneous donations (<$50) 180 1,440SUB-TOTAL 105,774 846,194

NacionalVolunteer fees Peten 75,809 606,471CONAP, In-kind support for parkguard salaries and food for animals, Peten 36,300 290,400Project administration (FONACON, CONAP, INGUAT)*** 15,475 123,800Volunteer fees Hawaii** 9,849 78,791CONAP, In-kind support for parkguard salaries, Hawaii 6,900 55,200Donations to the Rescue Center 5,223 41,782Entrance fees to the CEIA, Peten 4,124 32,994Michael Bostelmann 2,000 16,000Rescue Center (Entrance fees) 1,576 12,607Education Department, Presentations in schools 866 6,925Miscellaneous donations 422 3,380SUB-TOTAL 158,544 1,268,350

TOTAL INCOME 264,318 2,114,544

Expenditures US$* QGuatemala: Administration, Fundraising… 50,832 406,659Guatemala: Education Department 8,372 66,979Petén: Rescue Center 119,172 953,376Peten: CONAP, Parkguard salaries and animal food 36,300 290,400Hawaii: Sea turtle and mangrove conservation 16,077 128,619Hawaii: CONAP, Salaries for parkguards 6,900 55,200TOTAL EXPENDITURES 237,654 1,901,233

* Average exchange rate for 2011: $1=Q8.00** In addition to this income directly to ARCAS, ARCAS volunteers and ecotourists contributed to localcommunties in homestays, boat trips and other community activities


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ARCAS 2011 SUPPORTERS & COLLABORA TORS/Patrocinadores & Colaboradores p ara 2011(Financial or in-kind donations/ Donaciones financieras o en especie)

Domestic

APPE Spanish SchoolAxonClub Rotario del Este/Eastern Rotary ClubConsejo Nacional de Areas Protegidas/ National Council of Protected Areas (CONAP)Dra. Ligia MaldonadoFondo Nacional para la Conservacion de la Naturaleza/ National Nature Conservation Fund (FONACON)Michael BostelmannMundo Guatemala Spanish SchoolMunicipalidad de FloresMunicipalidad de San BenitoMunicipalidad de MixcoMunicipalidad de San LucasPisa TechnologyRainbow Cafe AntiguaTACA airlinesVeterinaria San Cristobal

International

Amcor, Luca MarlerAndrew DyasBrevard Zoo (Beth Armstrong)Capital City Bird SocietyChicago Cage Bird SocietyCincinnati ZooColumbus ZooCommundo HollandDavid Gaydon & Hannah Slade in memory of Daniel GaydonDawn StonerDisney Wildlife Conservation FundDonna GaryEliane and Armand Neukermans (Palo Alto Rotary Club)Elegia & Harold Heintz and family, Clinton, NYErick Gangloff y Rebeca SlaterFrancisco Estrada BelliGabriel SchnitzerGary AdestGeorge WheatonGlobal Federation of Animal Sanctuarys, Patty FinchGretchen L. FitzgeraldHotel California (Fernando and Betty)Humane Society InternationalJacob FrostJan Webber (El abuelito)Janet LevyJanice Moskowitz, Keith CostasJapanese Embassy in GuatemalaJereld Henry Wing

Jimmy WilkJim BaderJoanna Foundation (Lynn and JohnRegnery) in memory of Leonie GreavesJohn & Vera Hamm y FamiliaJudith LemareKimberly GarcíaKody HiltonLeadership TST FoundationLee Lee (Rob. Weil, R. & C. Alexander)Leonie LaursLesley DayLVR FashionMartin and Moira Secrest MuccioMary BlantinNorthern Illinois Parrot SocietyOakland ZooOregon ZooPalo Alto Rotary ClubPeninsula Caged Bird Society (TadForinger)Patricia CondranRoger GuzlasRosemary Collard (Collard family)Rotary Club InternationalReal GapRichard FlowersSarah InnesScott HelwigSeeTurtles (Brad Nahill)Sharon ShieldsSkylar R. CohenStuart Hunt y FamiliaThe Ocean FoundationTomoko AokiUICN Mesoamerican Regional Office -ProyectoAlianzas/UICN Oficina Regional Mesoamericana -Proyecto AlianzasUICN Comité Holandés/IUCN NetherlandsCommitteeUnited States Agency for InternationalDevelopmentVaughnese A. WilliamsVicki GutgesellWalt and Kaye Hayes (Palo Alto RotaryClub)Western Suburban Caged Bird ClubWildlife Volunteer Association (Paxton Family)William Sharp FamilyWorld Parrot Trust (Jamie Gilardi)World Partners Adoption

ARCAS increasingly relies on the support of individual donors from around the world, many of whom wereonce ARCAS volunteers, others who simply share our passion for conserving wildlife. A special thanks thisyear to Guatemalan businessman Michael Bostelman, Sharon Sheilds, Andrew Dyas, Jakob Frost, JaniceMoskowitz, Gabriel Schnitzer, and the Hunt, Heintz and Secrest families. We hope that in the future, with thecontinued growth of the volunteer program, ARCAS can improve its financial self-sustainability with donationsfrom these individual donors. Please let us know if you are interested in becoming one!

Individual Donors

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A lot of businesses claim to be green only when it doesn’t effect their bottom line. LVR Fashion is an exampleof a company that has built being green and giving back to wildlife conservation and other social causes into itscorporate philosophy. Eric Clarke volunteered with his mother at the ARCAS Rescue Center in 2000, and, ashe says, his life was forever changed. His new lifetime personal goals after that experience revolve aroundwildlife rescue and conservation, and specifically supporting ARCAS financially when the means are available.In 2010 Eric founded the clothing company LVRFashion, which specializes in organic and eco-friendlyclothing. He hopes to use the company as a platformto support ARCAS and other social causes. In October2011, Eric contacted ARCAS again to establish asponsorship relationship whereby LVR donates aportion of its revenues to ARCAS’s wildlife rehabilitationactivities. In January, 2012, Eric and LVR’s Sales/Marketing director, Anastasia Mazula, came to theRescue Center to volunteer and to cement thissponsorship relationship. Our sincere thanks to Ericand the rest of the team at LVR for their support. Ifyou’d like more information, visit their website atwww.lvrfashion.com Eric during his first visit to the Rescue Center in 2000.

LVR Fashion

Luca Marler works for the global packaging firm Amcor in her native Holland. Whenshe decided to volunteer with ARCAS during one of her vacations, she conducted asmall fundraising drive among her work colleagues and friends, and Amcor agreedto match any funds she raised. In total she was able to raise $1,947 which shedonated to the Rescue Center when she came to volunteer and which was used tosupport the purchase of a pick-up truck to be used in animal releases. On returningto Holland, Luca gave presentations to her co-workers and management at Amcorabout her experience at the Rescue Center. Many thanks to Luca and Amcor fortheir support!

For the last several years, TACA Airlines has given ARCAS staff and animalsfree flights from Guatemala City to Peten, as well as flights for ARCAS staffto attend conferences overseas. Many thanks to TACA and especially toMynor Cordon for coordinating this support.


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Board of Directors/Junta DirectivaDr. Roberto A. Monterroso PresidentDr. Rafael Barrios Flores Vice PresidentArq. Byron Rodríguez González TreasurerLic. Roberto Salvador Rodriguez SecretaryIng. Julio Piedra Santa VocalDr. Fernando Ramos Vocal

Personnel

Guatemala City

Miriam Monterroso Executive Director/Directora Ejecutiva Colum Muccio Administrative & Development Director/

Director Administrativo y de Desarollo Oda Ericastilla Director Education Department/

Director Departamento de Educación Luisa Ortiz Logistical coordinator/Coordinadora de logística Elizabeth Yanes Bookeeping/Contabilidad

Peten

Miguel Fernando Martinez Director, ARCAS/Peten Sergio Alejandro Morales Assistant Director, ARCAS/Peten Jose Maria Bol Tzin Park Guard/Guardarecursos Elías Bol Hicho Park Guard/Guardarecursos Gerardo Pérez Park Guard/Guardarecursos

Jorge Chi Laínez, Park Guard/Guardarecursos Benedicto Contreras Park Guard/Guardarecursos CONAP Roberto Aroche Park Guard/Guardarecursos CONAP Carlos Chajaj Park Guard/Guardarecursos CONAP Lucía Alvarez Cook/Cocinera

Hawaii Glenda Morales Director, Parque Hawaii, ARCAS Ediberto Hernandez (Mariachi) Park Guard/Guardarecursos, CONAP Juan Alvarez Park Guard/Guardarecursos, ARCAS/

Chiquimulilla Municipal Government Horacio Saenz Park Guard/Guardarecursos, ARCAS

ARCAS BOARD AND STAFF/Junta Directiva y Personal de ARCAS

ARCAS - GUATEMALAIntl Mail Address: Section 717, PO Box 52-7270, Miami, FL 33152-7270 USA

Street Address: Km 30, Carr. Interamericana, Casa 6 Villa Conchita, San Lucas, Sacatepequez, GuatemalaTelephone: (502)7830-1374 (T/F), 7830-4273

E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Website: www.arcasguatemala.com

ARCAS - PETENE-mail: [email protected] (Dir. of Rescue Center)

Tel: 5208-0968 (Fernando Martinez, Spanish), 5555-1722 (Alejandro Morales, English/Spanish)

ARCAS - HAWAIITel: 4269-6100 (Glenda Morales, Spanish)

Tel: 5837-5638 (Mariachi, Spanish)

Facebook fan group: ARCAS

Annual Report - Hugh Paxton's Blog · 11/06/2012 · WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION...

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Transcript of Annual Report - Hugh Paxton's Blog · 11/06/2012 · WILDLIFE RESCUE AND CONSERVATION ASSOCIATION...