Saving the blue-billed curassow: building a secure future – Colombia

Luis Eduardo Uruena

Deforestation and hunting drove the enigmatic Blue-billed Curassow (“Paujil”) to the edge of extinction. ProAves launched a conservation initiative in 2004 that identified possibly its last viable population in Serranía de las Quinchas, produced a 5-year Action Plan, ProAves then purchased 1,201 ha in 2004, establishing the El Paujil Nature Reserve. With BPCP support, we will consolidate conservation actions through protecting surrounding forest with community reserves, sustainable community development and awareness initiatives. This will ensure the future survival of the Paujil and a host of other threatened flora and fauna restricted to the imperiled forests of Northern Colombia.