Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Wednesday 16 May 2018

Arikok National Park: Aruba’s Cottontail rabbit on the rise?

we have recently experi- - Keep your pets nearby;
enced. This could cause a make sure your dog or cat
new decline in the Conew is not allowed to run off and
population that was just become a predator to our
starting to recover. wildlife. You can also help
reduce our feral dog and
You can help the Aruban cat populations by making
Conew: sure your pets are spayed
- Help reduce the Boa pop- or neutered.
ulation; Call the Park (585- - Always drive slowly and
1234 during office hours) or cautiously in rural and wil-
ORANJESTAD - The Eastern to 3 months old. A female long period of drought. As send a private message on derness areas. Avoid driv-
Cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus rabbit, called a doe, finds the Conew can reproduce Facebook for us to assist in ing in nature areas at night;
floridanus) was probably a suitable nest spot under very quickly, a short break removing a Boa. We can the Conew is mostly active
brought over to the island a shrub or rocks and lines it in predation pressure can also assist in determining around sunset and sun-
by Indian settlers thou- with fur. She can have an lead to a fast increase of whether a snake is a Boa or rise, they are confused by
sands of years ago as a average of 3 to 4 litters per rabbits. Sadly, the Boas are one of our local endemic headlights and you could
source of food. This rabbit, year averaging 5 young back on the rise again with species, the Santanero or accidentally hit one with
locally known as Conew, each. The doe only visits the truly wet rainy seasons Cascabel. your vehicle.q
has spread all over the is- her young once or twice a
land and has become part day to nurse her babies for
of our ecosystem. The very a period of 2 to 3 weeks.
adaptable Conew can live The young reach indepen-
in a wide variety of habi- dence at 4 to 5 weeks.
tats, including Aruba’s xe- The Aruban Conew is an
ric scrublands, where it typ- endangered species and
ically grazes on weeds and protected by Aruban law.
grasses. The Conew is thought to
have drastically declined
The Aruban Conew has a due to an increase in hu-
brownish grey color and a man activities, habitat
distinctive white belly. This fragmentation and preda-
white fur extends to the tion by the invasive Boa
bottom of the tail which constrictor as well as feral
becomes visible as the rab- cats and dogs. However,
bit runs. These rabbits can recently there seem to be
grow up to approximately more rabbit sightings in rural
40 centimeters in length and wilderness areas and
over their short lifespan of also in the National Park.
3 years. Cottontail rabbits This could be linked to a re-
reach reproductive ma- cent decline of the invasive
turity when they are just 2 Boa population after the