Tell us more about the challenge of the project.What is the problem you are trying to solve? Why is the problem significant?

The release of rehabilitated wild animals meets a demand from the government CETAS, which needs pristine areas for the release of animals that have the possibility of returning to the wild. On the other hand, many of the species rehabilitated are vulnerable or endangered species whose populations are in sharp decline. Thus, in addition to strengthening the population of that species in the release area, unjust damage caused to that individual is being repaired, and it will have a second chance to live fully in situ.

Some researchers and thinkers go further, saying that rewilding is the missing piece in restoration efforts, where conservation falls short by recovering practically empty forests or with key species that no longer inhabit that territory. The reintroduction of wolves to Yellowstone is perhaps the most famous example of how important and decisive the reintroduction of a species that was once persecuted, especially because it is "top of the chair", can have extremely beneficial effects on the biodiversity and resilience/strength of that ecosystem - see, by the way, the Ted Talk, For more wonder, rewild the world:

Tell us more about the proposed solution of the project.How will it work?

The WINGS Project at RPPN Avá-Canoeiro is a project that aims to structure a Release Center for Wild Animals that have been rehabilitated by CETAS or IBAMA Screening Centers. These are animals that have been victims of illegal trafficking, hit-and-run accidents, or various forms of aggression and which, after treatment ranging from one or two months to a few years, have obtained the ability to be reintroduced into their natural habitat because they can feed and care for themselves without the need for human help. Some animals will never be able to live in the wild and when their chances of surviving in the wild are minimal, due to sequelae or because the animals are too tame, for example, IBAMA does not authorize their release and they continue to live in captivity forever.

The Avá-Canoeiro RPPN team has already raised funds to build a 740m2 mammal enclosure and a 400m2 bird/psittacine enclosure. At the moment, we are also buying an electrified fence for the mammal enclosure to make it safe for the animals that will be there acclimatizing (to prevent jaguars from climbing out of the enclosure, for example) and also to receive animals that climb the screens - jaguars and anteaters.

It so happens that the animal caretaker who feeds and watches over the animals is sleeping in a makeshift tent, and it is important that better facilities are made available for him, as well as a pantry and fridge to store the animals' food.

We already have the architectural design for the caretaker's house, as well as an outpatient clinic (which we intend to build when we are ready, in two or three years, to upgrade from an ASAS to a CETAS, which would require hiring a veterinarian and assistant to carry out rehabilitation and less complex surgeries that the animals need, thus relieving the IBAMA CETAS, which are currently overflowing with animals).

The architectural plans were kindly donated by Simbiose Arquitetura/Architect Bruno Ferreira.

Last week, we released a male-maned wolf and are about to receive a pair of tapirs and another female-maned wolf.

What will be the main activities of the project and how will the resources be applied?

The project's main activity is to receive healthy animals from the CETAS in Goiânia and Brasília, which will have to complete a variable period of rehabilitation and acclimatization in enclosures before being released. During this period, the animals must be adequately fed, watched, and monitored later, after release, using a GPS or VHF collar. The monitoring is done with the support of CETAS/Instituto Floresta Cheia/Time de Conservação dos Mamíferos da Chapada dos Veadeiros/UNB. The region surrounding the ASAS of the Avá-Canoeiro RPPN is considered excellent for receiving rehabilitated individuals due to the excellent state of conservation of its surroundings, its proximity to the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park and its high support capacity, as well as the fact that it is a very sparsely inhabited region.

The funds will be used exclusively to build a small residence for a caretaker, with a pantry and fridge to store food for the animals. The caretaker's house will be 40m2 and built with accessible materials such as eucalyptus/adobe bricks/clay or American tiles, among other materials.