Saturday, March 24, 2018

Jaguar conservation projects in Bolivia

 Our Jaguar Conservation /Ranch Partnerships in Bolivia


Jaguar with cubs seen during an expediton to the San Carlos Wildlife Reserve in Bolivia

Unknown to most , is that conflicts between Ranchers and Predators make up a huge percentage of predators being killed. Worldwide this is huge issue and affects snow leopards, Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Wolves, Pumas and sadly Jaguars in Latin America. Many Ranchers pay full time professional hunters to shoot problem predators, or also use poison, traps and many other methods. 

The issue is complicated, its easy for people on the outside to be critical of Ranchers for the killing of predators, but you have to put yourself in the shoes of the land owners who can lose huge percentages of profits. With meat consumption soaring worldwide these issues will continue to soar with the big cats being the losers.

A cow deep inside a National Park which was killed by a Jaguar, the result usually ends in the Jaguar being killed.

Every year hundreds of Jaguars, Pumas, Ocelots are killed in Latin America for eating livestock.


Our aim is to develop schemes which can benefit both the Rancher and the predators which are only doing what the can to survive, thus the idea for Ranch/Eco Tourism projects like San Carlos Wildlife Reserve   and our other partner project San Miguelito Jaguar Conservation Reserve has been born.  The aim is to provide eco tourism, where through tourism costs of cattle which have been eaten by Jaguars or other predators will be covered, in return all guns and the hunting of Jagaurs and their prey species will cease. 

Travellers enjoying a boat trip in the San Miguelito Jaguar Reserve.

WHAT WE CAN DO TO HELP 

People often ask what can be done to help save Jaguars, we believe that the first step means a reduction in red meat being eaten, and a push for Predator friendly certifed meats where costs of predation are passed on to the consumer, that way you would know that the meat you are eating has not caused a Jaguar or Puma to have been killed.  Other options are to support Eco tourism projects such as these, money raised goes towards developing the infrustructure as well as providing employment and covering Cattle losses. We aim to continue to expand these projects and convince Ranchers that Jaguars and other animals are worth more alive than dead. 

Jaguar sighting at the San Miguelito Jaguar Conservation Reserve Bolivia


Tourists purchasing body parts of Jaguars be it teeth , skins or body parts for spiritial Ayahuasca rituals is also driving poaching of Jaguars. 

Lastly tourism demand for bush meat is growing, many restuarants in Latin America often offer peccaries, Armadillos, Tapir, Deer and other species. These animals are prey of the Jaguar and Pumas, and when these are depleted they are forced to eat cattle thus causing conflicts.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR JAGUAR ECO TOURISM PROJECTS IN BOLIVIA CONTACT US AT WWW.NICKSADVENTURESBOLIVIA.COM

Friday, March 23, 2018

MADIDI NATIONAL PARK OR THE PAMPAS OF BOLIVIA ?

 MADIDI NATIONAL PARK VS PAMPAS TRIPS



Unknown to most travellers, is that the Bolivian Amazon via Madidi National Park is one of the worlds most pristine and biodiverse locations on the planet and if you visit the best locations then you will have have the Jungle experience of a lifetime



Sadly many budget tour companies and agencies offer cheap Jungle trips very close to the town of Rurrenrabaque , these areas are often overun with large groups backpackers as well as are in areas of high hunting pressure. As a result many of these travellers write blogs and spread the word that the Amazon in Bolivia is not good for wildlife and that the Pampas is a better option. This cannot be further from the truth.

Amazing views of the Amazon Rainforest of Madidi National Park- well away from the crowds which greatly affect wildlife watching.

While the Pampas does offer travellers easy access and good viewing of many species, the chances to see rarer species such as Tapirs, Jaguars or Giant Otters are virtually 0. In the areas where our tourists visit they are frequently rewarded with incredible views of these species , as well as experiencing the pristine forests away from the crowds.

Jaguar sighting deep in the Tuichi River, our tourists have around a 30 percent success rate , which is extremely high for an Amazon Rainforest trips.

OUR RECOMMENDATION TO TRAVELLERS IS TO EXPLORE BOTH REGIONS OF MADIDI NATIONAL PARK AND THE BOLIVIAN PAMPAS.  BOTH ECOSYSTEMS ARE VASTLY DIFFERENT AND ARE HIGHLIGHTS OF ANY VISIT TO BOLIVIA.


FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR MADIDI NATIONAL PARK AND PAMPAS JUNGLE TRIPS CONTACT US AT 


Wednesday, March 21, 2018

REMOTE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED IN BOLIVIA

JUNGLE EXPEDITION IN THE WET SEASON TO SAN CARLOS WILDLIFE RESERVE



Our latest trip to San Carlos Wildlife Reserve was a real adventure, this year has been one of the wettest in years so huge parts of the Beni Department are flooded, which made road and river conditions harsher than normal. That being said the trip was spectacular and we saw a lot of wildlife which ranged from huge Black Caiman,Pink Dolphins, Marsh Deer, 4 species of Monkeys, Capybara , Macaws and a Giant Anteater which we saw swimming across the river. We also had a Jaguar call and respond and it came less than 200 metres from our lodging.

Here are some of the highlights of the trip

4 meter plus Black Caiman which took interest in our boat
 
Capybara Galore

Pink Dolphins in San Carlos Reserve
Jaguar which we later heard calling close to our lodge

Queen Victoria Amazonian Waterlillys

Stunning birdlife with several species of Macaws.


Breathtaking Sunsets on Rio San Carlos


We entered San Carlos Reserve with a combination of Boat and 4WD, travel time was greatly increased but hope by the start of the tour season the conditions will be perfect

This is just a few of the highlights of this amazing new touristic destination. For more information about our Jungle and wildlife conservation tours contact us at www.nicksadventuresbolivia.com



Monday, March 12, 2018

The best Jungle and Pampas experience in Bolivia

AMAZING MADIDI/PAMPAS TOUR PACKAGE HIGHLIGHTS




Last week out lucky tourists partook in a spectacular Madidi National Park and Bolivian Pampas Tour. This Jungle/Pampas package takes you to explore the highlights of this amazing region. Here are some photo highlights from this amazing trip.

Part of the highlights of this Jungle tour package is sitting by Salt Licks, these areas are often frequented by Peccaries and Tapirs which are often see from the viewing platform. Jaguars have even been seen from this exact location.


The boat trip up the Beni and Tuichi rivers is spectacular, Macaws are frequently seen as well as Capybara, Caimans and more. If you are lucky Jaguars can be seen by the river and other groups have been lucky to see basking or hunting by the river.

A beautiful Jaguar seen by our tourists on a previous Madidi /Pampas package tour.



Activities during this packaged tour include hiking, learning about flora and fauna, boat trips and much more. In the Pampas section you can even go Anaconda searching as well as Piranah fishing and swimming with Pink Dolphins.


Our Madidi/Pampas tour package takes you to explore the least touristic areas of these locations, we avoid the crowds which gives our clients the best opportunities to enjoy these ecosystems and its flora and fauna in peace.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT OUR AMAZING MADIDI NATIONAL PARK AND BOLIVIAN PAMPAS JUNGLE TOUR VISIT OUR WEBPAGE OF WWW.NICKSADVENTURESBOLIVIA.COM