Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200701

locAl Wednesday 1 July 2020
A31

Shoco support

ORANJESTAD — No ac- now endangered, with esti-
tion is too big or too small mates of less than 150 pairs
when it comes to nature remaining.
conservation! Foundation
National Park Aruba (FPNA) Threats include over-devel-
and Aruba Birdlife Conser- opment and the invasive
vation (ABC) are excited boa constrictor. Efforts are
to have been able to work being made to ensure that
with local resident Enrique it does not go extinct. The
to ensure the safety and ‘Shoco’ was made one of
survival of a pair of Shoco Aruba’s National Symbols
with whom he shares his on February 2012. It also
property. appears on Aruba’s Postal
Stamps and Currency. The
Enrique commissioned one year 2012 was declared to
of our Artificial Shoco Bur- be the year of the ‘Shoco’
rows, which was recently and for the Aruban Burrow-
installed on the terrain and ing Owl to be nominated as
his Shoco neighbors seem Aruba’s National Bird. The
very grateful with the kind island’s terrestrial protect-
gesture. When asked: Why ed area, Parke Nacional Teaming up with Tierra del and invited the Global Owl come to launch this unique
did you approach FPNA? Arikok, is also an important Sol Project to join in their en- project in November 2019.
Enrique replied: "I always refuge where the popula- In 2016 Aruba Birdlife Con- deavor. A plan was made Tierra del Sol was ready to
believe that nature is for- tion can recover and the servation and National Park and together they then serve as the primary ex-
ever, and we must respect staff is actively involved in Aruba formed a partnership approached Cisco Quant, ample of the Aruba Shoco
that at all costs. When I conservation efforts. to rescue the Shoco from General Manager of Tierra Conservation Project.
saw how blessed I was with extinction. They searched del Sol with the request to Our Governor Alfonso
Shocos on my land I knew for an international partner partner in Aruba’s first Sho- Boekhoudt is a profound
that I needed to dedicate co Conservation Project. nature lover who has taken
some space for them to A fundamental aspect an interest in the Shoco
live a happy life. I’m very of the Shoco Conserva- Conservation Project from
grateful with the help from tion Project entails offering day 1. At that time the
FPNA and ABC in making a the Shocos artificial bur- Governor paid an informal
Shoco safe zone on my ter- rows which are strategi- visit at Tierra Del Sol to be
rain." Nature belongs to ev- cally placed at safe loca- informed in detail on the
eryone. Together we can tions. Over a period of two progress made. During this
ensure its protection and years, 22 artificial burrows visit he discovered that a
survival, for the benefit of were placed at such safe pair of Shocos had moved
present and future genera- locations around the Tierra in at Hole # 14, yes, at Tierra
tions. del Sol Golf Course. And del Sol’s signature golf hole!
the good news is that the It goes without saying that it
Shoco or Aruban Burrow- Shocos love their new arti- was this artificial burrow site
ing Owl’s population has ficial burrows. The partners which was chosen for the
greatly diminished and is agreed that the time had launch. q