A small hidden cabin, a refuge for Venezuelan wildlife
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Loading... - James Fisher
- 24 Oct 2022
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In a small cabin equipped for the shelter and care of wildlife, located at the foot of a mountain in eastern Caracas, injured or sick animals are cared for until they are ready to return to their habitat . It is the Fundación Plumas y Tails en Libertad, where the veterinarian Grecia Marquís welcomes patients.
With Marquís, two salaried employees and six volunteers work, who care for an annual average of 165 animals in this foundation that has been active for more than 15 years, in which, in addition, it has dedicated itself to raising awareness about the urgent need to care for the environment and The Biodiversity.
This function is part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to which Venezuela is committed, but which, in Caracas, is attended to alone by nature and animal lovers, such as the members of this group.
The Venezuelan Observatory of Environmental Human Rights (OVDHA) assured that in the country there is " an accelerated loss of biological diversity " that affects the deterioration and extinction of local fauna species.
Saving biodiversity
Sloths, foxes, porcupines, opossums, ocelots, snakes, birds of prey, parrots, parakeets and macaws are some of the wild species found in Venezuela and attended by Plumas y Colas en Libertad.
"Venezuela is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity on the planet and Caracas is a capital full of forests, full of trees, full of mountains and there is a lot of biodiversity typical of our city ," Marquis explained to Efe, who recalls that the constructions urban areas have broken into natural spaces, generating interaction between wildlife and citizens.
The veterinarian comments that the species come to the foundation thanks to citizens who find one in danger, through local security forces who come across run-over animals or on public roads, or from the hands of people who rescue them from captivity and death. Illegal sale.
"We offer them (help) within our possibilities and, many times, we cannot cover all those who need (...) because we do not have support from any public or private organization ", lamented the director of this organization who is She supports herself with the sale of canvases painted by herself, t-shirts and other objects with drawings inspired by fauna.
Upon arrival at the center, any animal is attended by the veterinarian who reviews its condition, offers the necessary care and, subsequently, provides them with a space to rest, adequate food and the necessary rehabilitation and training to return to their natural habitat.
But some, who cannot fly because their captors cut off their wings or who cannot defend themselves or feed themselves due to captivity, stay in the forest near the foundation, where they are constantly fed and cared for. Read More…
