Vaccination campaign protects Colocolo and Guigna, Chile
by Carlos Castro
Colocolo Conservation Project
With volunteers of Colocolo Conservation Project (CCP), we carried out a new dog vaccination campaign. On this occasion, we vaccinated 105 dogs exclusively from herders that often enter the reserve with their dogs. These dogs are the most important since they coexist inside the reserve that is the home of Colocola and Guigna. As a matter of Chilean federal law and culture, the Chilean park service CONAF cannot prohibit domestic dogs from entering in spite of the great damage they cause.
Thanks to generous support from our financial partners, the CCP team reduced the threat of disease transfer from these dogs to the wild cats. We hope to soon have the entire area's population of dogs and cats vaccinated. We are happy because slowly the herders are understanding the importance of vaccinating and caring for their pets. Soon they will understand the negative impact their loose dogs pose. As a symbol of the good relations that we created, above is the group photo of the herders and the CCP veterinarians.
Successful pet neutering campaign, Chile
by Carlos Castro
Colocolo Conservation Project
The pet neutering campaign carried out by the Colocolo Conservation Project (CCP) was a great success. Thanks to CCP volunteers, we neutered 45 pet dogs and cats. Although more than 50 arrived, a few of them could not be operated on due to their poor conditions. Our efforts were successful. No pets were injured so people trust us now. We hope to have another campaign soon and increase the number. Slowly, carefully, we are reducing threats to Colocolo and Guigna. Thanks to generous support provided by our team of financial partners, our in-situ team is making a difference.
Mountain clean-up campaign, Chile
by Carlos Castro, Chile
Colocolo Conservation Project
Wildfires pose a great danger to Colocolo and Guigna in the central zone forests of Chile where we work. Wildfires generally occur where there are garbage dumps. Enabled by our financial partners, we purchased supplies such as gloves to protect our hands, strong sacks and rope to lower garbage sacks, and refreshments and food for the volunteers. The alliance between the Colocolo Conservation Project (CCP) and volunteers of Fundación Cerro Poqui, a local hiking club, we began our task We achieved what previously appeared impossible - we cleaned the entire mountain of garbage. Lots of garbage.
Exhausted, we enjoyed a great pizza feast at the foot of the mountain where we celebrated our success albeit near a small mountain of loaded garbage bags! But the pile of garbage bags was a welcomed sight for all of us, a symbol of our joint success. We reduced the chance that wildfire will destroy the forest sanctuary of Colocolos and Güiñas..
Working with children to change the future, Chile
by Carlos Castro
Colocolo Conservation Project
We visited four rural schools in Cajón del Maipo, in the commune of Las Cabras and in Vilches. Thanks to our friends of Millantú, we worked in the Cajon del Maipo with herders, young people and schools to save our favorite small cats: Colocolo and Guigna. We made an alliance to work together. The Colocolo Conservation Project network is growing every day. Here's a link to the pictures.
We also returned to Vilches high school and the love for the Colocolo is enormous. We arrived at 9:00 am and the kids were waiting for us with warm bread made by the children's mothers. We reciprocated the courtesy by inviting the children to eat hot dogs we brought for lunch. We cooked at the school, had lunch with the kids, and most of them concluded the Colocolo was their favorite cat. Do you know why? Because they say that the best days of their lives have been thanks to this cat. Sometimes it is difficult to understand these situations but not all children have eat such simple things as hot dogs in their homes. It's humbling, really. Thus, even experiencing actions as simple as cooking a hot dog in the name of a wildcat make children love it. Today in Vilches every child protects the Colocolo.
With the children, we drew, painted, shared hot dogs, and listened to their fascinating stories. One little girl mesmerized us with her animated story that the main threat facing the Colocolo is fairies. Fairies and Colocolos are enemies and frequently fight in the forest. You can sometimes hear them screaming. With all her sincerity, she warned us that because we are helping Colocolos, we must also beware of fairies.
Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary, Bolivia
by Vicky Ossio and Marcelo Levy
Nestled on the eastern flank of the Bolivian Andes, Senda Verde (Green Path) is a wildlife refuge that has been a beacon of hope since its founding in 2003. The sanctuary was born out of a deep love for the natural world and the urgent need to protect Bolivia's diverse wildlife. What began with the rescue of an orphaned capuchin monkey has since evolved into a sanctuary for over 1,100 animals, each receiving the care and protection they deserve.
Senda Verde is at the forefront of wildlife protection efforts in Bolivia. By collaborating with park rangers, environmental police, and the Government of La Paz, the sanctuary actively combats illegal wildlife trade. Additionally, they work to raise awareness among local communities about the importance of wildlife. The sanctuary itself spans 500 acres, providing a protected heaven for rescued residents like Margay (above), Jaguarundi, Clouded tiger-cat, Jaguar, and Puma along with Andean bear, Tapir, and many other species.
One of the most inspiring stories from Senda Verde is that of Sasha, an 18-year-old Margay who has lived at the sanctuary since 2006. Sasha was mistakenly taken from the wild by a family who thought she was a baby Jaguar. Over the years, Sasha has become a symbol of the delicate balance of nature and the vital role each species plays within it. Her story, along with those of other rescued felines, underscores the urgent need for conservation action. Sasha has inspired many photographers from around the world to admire the beauty of small wild cats.
Currently, Senda Verde is home to 20 felines, each with a unique history of survival and resilience. Many of these cats arrive in poor physical and emotional condition, but thanks to the sanctuary's dedicated veterinary team, each is given a second chance at life.
One such success story occurred in 2020 when villagers, mistaking a Clouded tiger-cat for a Jaguar cub, began throwing rocks at her. Senda Verde's rescue team responded immediately, saving the injured cat. After receiving the necessary medical care, she was released into the wild, once again free to roam her natural habitat.
At Senda Verde, no animal is ever turned away. The veterinary team is ready 24/7, committed to saving as many lives as possible. Whether it's a cat victimized by people or one injured by a car, every effort is made to rehabilitate and, when feasible, return them into the wild. Through their unwavering dedication, our team at Senda Verde continues to make a profound impact on the conservation of Bolivia's small wild cats, ensuring these incredible creatures have a future in the wild.
Senda Verde Wildlife Sanctuary is SWCCF newest rescue center partner.
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