BIODIVERSITY IN MEXICO

ECOTOURISM IN WILD BIRD WATCHING

Ecotourism observation of wild birds, is a well-developed industry in many countries around the world who come each year to win many millions of dollars just for this purpose. However this is not the case with Mexico, despite having one of the largest varieties of endemic species, and if neighbors leading provider of ecotourists in the world. In Mexico there are birds in almost all the territory, but mainly in states such as Oaxaca, Chiapas, Veracruz and Puebla. Birding is an ecotourism activity that takes place, for various purposes such as enjoyment of nature through the use of cameras, binoculars etc., Observation or research purposes. It is estimated that only in the United States, birders joined 82 million people, of which 9.8 million would travel to other countries to see wild birds. This left a number of observers in the U.S. economic flow of 35 billion dollars between 2007 and 2010, turning the activity into a mega industry. (Figures obtained by the Defenders of Wildlife environmental organizations in Mexico and Teyeliz AC) Other countries like Ecuador, Peru, Colombia and Brazil, are already developing ecotourism projects based on the observation of species not in Mexico. Unfortunately, even when at home, there are about 1100 species of wild birds, representing 11% of all birds throughout the world, which places Mexico in fifth place in the world and second in the continent, only below Brazil. Hopefully soon could develop a project of this nature in our country.

WILDLIFE TRAFFICKING IN MEXICO

Every day we hear on the news about drug seizures, or seizures of weapons, but rarely on the confiscation of flora and fauna. Which according to official sources (SEMARNAT) after traffic in arms and drugs, the illegal activity is more important in some countries in South America, Central America and Mexico of course. Wildlife trafficking is one of the crimes that most boom has taken on an international level, move large amounts of money in the world, being obviously countries like Mexico, one of the main suppliers of this market. In the case of our country, home to nearly 8% of the biodiversity of the world, the situation becomes alarming. Distribution networks have large resources, both financial and human resources to carry out their activities ilícitas.Su modus operandi is similar to the drug, its base begins working with collectors, people from different regions, peasants, indigenous people etc. ., who know the places, the reproductive cycles of species, or their natural habitat, but that most of the time unaware of the criminal nature of the orders, for which they also receive very low amounts of money. Then there are the groups that are responsible for transporting the species closest to the big cities. That's where marketing groups operate, who are responsible for contacting and expanding niche markets in both the country and abroad.Late last year the International Union for Conservation of Nature, released in Mexico, there are about nine hundred endangered species or threatened. For that reason the illegal wildlife trade is that it becomes a real threat for the conservation of the species within the country. Besides the implications for the rest of the world may mean traffic and loss of these animals. Not to mention the risks of diseases zoo News that this may entail.

Author: Israel Rico

FAUNA IN CHIAPAS. Canyon crocodiles Gully

The state of Chiapas, has always been known for being an exceptional place as a tourist destination, either for its cultural plurality, or by its natural attractions such as archaeological sites, protected green areas as biosphere reserves etc. Chiapas is one of the states that harbor the greatest number and diversity of wildlife in the country, and it is this surprising, or disturbing the case. About three years ago were found in the barrel of four copies of crocodile sink with a pigmentation different from the hitherto known, the coloration of these specimens is bluish with some other secondary features that surprised biologists, as the dark the eyes and the passivity of the animals. From the first moment were several assumptions, some of them talked about the discovery of a new species, others spoke of a genetic disorder due to inbreeding ¨ · This is when a species reproduces continuously between members of the same family.But the most alarming of them is that there was a very high chance that this color change is due to water contamination by heavy metals (which knowing how things are in this country is more likely), something very sad were the case, as we talk about the real conditions under which this sitio.Lo is only true until today, is that the few investigations that have been made, have not produced anything concrete, and continued speculation. Some of these animals are in the zoo Miguel Alvarez del Toro (ZOOMAT) of the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, but not on display.Hopefully very soon we will know something about the precise origin of these animals.

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