Fauna Preservation Center guarantees the well-being of wild animals in Rio's Botanical Garden

Preserving and protecting wildlife is also the job of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. One of the world's most important research centers in the fields of botany and biodiversity conservation, the institution promoted an activity to mark Fauna Defense Day (September 09th). During a nighttime visit to the arboretum, guided by the Fauna Conservation Center, an opossum was released into the wild.

 - The Rio Botanical Garden is a living museum of plants. Thanks to the flora conservation work done here, there is a great diversity of animals living in and visiting the arboretum. Conserving the flora means that we can also preserve the fauna. We have a favorable environment for animals to feed, reproduce and live freely. The animals' freedom is fundamental to the preservation of nature - says the Center's supervisor, biologist Marina Bordin, pointing out that the Botanical Garden has a large area of preserved forest, adjacent to the Tijuca Forest. The neighborhood allows access to various species of mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians that visit or live in the Garden. Some of them have nocturnal habits, such as owls, frogs and skunks - says the Center's coordinator, Marina Bordin.

 Brazil's fauna is one of the richest in the world, with more than 100,000 species of animals, including vertebrates and invertebrates, according to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio). Of those assessed by the institute, there are more than 1,000 species in some category of threat of extinction. Among the causes are animal trafficking and deforestation, for example. Fauna Defense Day aims to raise public awareness of wildlife trafficking.

 At the Rio Botanical Garden, the work carried out by the Fauna Conservation Center includes the monitoring, rescue and special care of animals that live in or frequent the arboretum. Capuchin monkey (Sapajus nigritus), black-eared opossum (Didelphis aurita), teiú lizard (Salvator merianae), bush dog (Cerdocyon thous), anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla), coati (Nasua nasua), snake, (Procyon cancrivorus), paca (Cuniculus paca) and birds such as hawks, black-billed toucans (Ramphastos ariel), owls and wildebeests (Nyctibius griseus) are some of the species present in the arboretum. Created in 2005, the Center provides an average of 400 visits a year. In 2022, there were 467. This year there have already been 315.

 - Some non-venomous snakes, for example, are monitored to keep track of their development and health. We microchip them, measure them and weigh them, because these are animals that usually come back. As well as monitoring, we provide first aid if we find any animals that are injured or have any problems. Sometimes, as we have predators and prey here, they get into conflicts or fall from a tree or into a river. If it's injured, we send it to a wild vet. If it just needs a recovery period to return to the wild, we take it to the Center for treatment. We also find chicks that have lost their mothers. At the moment, for example, we have a teiú and an opossum cub being fed and weight controlled - says Marina Bordin.

 According to her, frequent visits make it easier to identify the animals.

- We have already mapped and photographed the entire flock of capuchin monkeys, which is old and goes back many generations. They've all been given names, and some we can easily identify, like Van Damme and Wolverine. We also easily recognized Beyoncé, a beautiful boa (Boa constrictor) of almost three metres, our favorite, and Romeu, a common sloth (Bradypus variegatus) that we always rescue when it crosses Pacheco Leão Street - reveals the biologist.

 Despite the intimacy, the biologist says that her relationship with the animals is professional.

 - We restrict our cuddly moments to naming the animals we look after. They are free. They have to go back to nature. Not long ago, we rescued and cared for a litter of opossums and, once they had recovered, we microchipped them and returned them to the wild. One of them returned a while later. It was a pregnant female. This shows the results of our work. Our greatest satisfaction is taking care of an animal and having it come back healthy.

 According to Marina, the Botanical Garden is also a hostel for new residents.

 - About a month ago, we spotted an arapapá, which is a rare sighting in Rio de Janeiro. It eats small amphibians and has been appearing in the lake near the children's playground - says Marina Bordin. The boat-billed heron (Cochlearius cochlearius) is a unique bird with a wide beak that resembles an upside-down boat.

 Unusual visits also happen.

 - Last year, a female and her baby capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) spent about two weeks wandering around here. They then returned to the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon. Recently, we also had a visit from a great horned owl (Megascops choliba), which had never appeared before. Then we rescued a baby. If there are chicks, it's a sign that there are couples established here.

 Environmental education is another task of the fauna team, in order to promote a harmonious relationship between visitors and nature.

 - We try to make visitors aware that the animals here are free-living and that feeding them is dangerous because of the transmission of diseases, especially herpes, both for them and for us. The seemingly innocent act of picking up a piece of jackfruit that has fallen to the ground and giving it to a capuchin monkey puts the animal's health at risk. When we put our hands on the fruit, we contaminate the food. What's more, by doing this, we are teaching them that we can feed them, so they go after human waste, which interferes with their behavior. They have access to food in the wild and are intelligent enough to decide how to consume a balanced diet.

 The team also advises visitors to tell an employee to call the Center if they spot a snake, for example.

 - Visitors should not approach. The wild animal is at home, it will always keep its distance if it is not attacked. In fact, there have never been any accidents involving snakes or other species at the Botanical Garden.

 The Botanical Garden's Green Area Conservation Coordinator, Martha Ronchini, points out that the Fauna Conservation Center only monitors and attends to the wild animals present in the Garden.

 - The Center is there to ensure the well-being of wildlife within the arboretum. The city's population should contact the environmental patrol or the city hall service on 1746 to provide care for animals that need it. We also warn against abandoning cats here in the area, as they are one of the biggest predators of birds. What's more, the environment here is not suitable for them because they can become prey. Recently, we were surprised by the presence of a goat. The animal was abandoned injured in a wooded area very close to the Botanical Garden, and ended up taking refuge here. Don't abandon animals. Nature thanks you.