Focused on the preservation of the environment and cultural heritage to boost social development.

Maintaining the genetic legacy of fauna and building environmental awareness as a consequence

The Conservationist Breeding Ground concept is relatively new to Brazil. Regulated by the Brazilian Institute of Environmental and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) since 1993, the Conservationist Breeding Ground Project conducted on the São José Farm has been striving fervently to maintain the preservation and reproduction of various species of Brazilian wildlife.

Located in the municipality of Itirapina (Sao Paulo State), the main goals of the Breeding Ground Project are as follows:

To maintain a genetically viable farming estate for future programs focused on restoring and handling endangered wild bird populations;

To develop and improve techniques for breeding animals in captivity ;

To document and share data that may be worthy to other handlers.

The Breeding Ground on São José Farm hosts and tracks the life of a variety of animal species under the supervision of a team of qualified experts. In addition, it keeps a liaison with professionals representing several institutions that aid in the elaboration of projects and in the care of the animals.

The success in breeding these animals guarantees the survival of an important genetic heritage of wild populations seriously threatened by extinction.

Recent Triumphs

Reproduction of marsh deer, maned wolves, rheas, bare-faced curassows, and large-headed capuchins;

Maintenance of one of the largest groups of marsh deer ever held in captivity;

Groundbreaking repopulation of the Caiua Ecological Station in Parana State, with 20 some rheas born into captivity;

Upkeep of one of the largest nurseries for harpy eagles, including egg laying and incubation of the species.

CONSERVATIONIST BREEDING GROUND PROJECT São José Farm
Common Name	Scientific Name	Number of birds as of 09/21/2006
		M	F	I	Tot

Guianan Brown Capuchin	Cebus apella	05	01	00	06
Red macaw	Ara chloroptera	01	01	00	02
Arara canindé	Ara ararauna	02	05	00	07
Bare-faced Curassow	Crax fasciolata	12	10	00	22
Red-browed Amazon parrot	A . rhodochoryta *	00	03	00	03
Ararajuba	Aratinga guarouba *	01	01	01	03
Cuiú-cuiú	Pionopsita pileata	00	01	00	01
Marianinha cab. Preta	P. melanocephala	01	00	00	01
Anacã	D. acciptrinus	01	01	00	02
Papagaio do mangue	A . amazonica	01	00	00	01
Papagaio verdadeiro	A . aestiva	00	00	03	03
Papagaio galego	Amazona xanthops	01	01	00	02
Maitaca	Pionus maximilliani	01	02	00	03
Nambu relógio	C. pavirostris	02	02	02	06
Papagaio papa cacau	Amazona festiva	01	00	00	01
Mutum cavalo	Mitu tuberosa	01	01	00	02
Jacupemba	P. superciliaris	04	02	00	06
Lobo guará	C. brachyurus *	02	02	00	04
Harpia	Harpia harpija *	02	01	00	03
Ema	Rhea americana	07	20	00	27
Cervo do Pantanal	B. dichotomus *	04	05	00	09
Jabotí	G. carbonaria	02	01	00	03
Jaboti	G. denticulata	01	01	00	02
Veado catingueiro	M. gouazoubira	01	00	00	01
Tucano toco	Ramphastos toco	01	00	00	01
Urumutum	Nothocrax urumutum	01	01	00	02

* animal species threatened by extinction, according to official IBAMA estimate

The outcome of this endeavor eventually forms a precious educational foundation in the formation of environmental awareness in the minds of children and teens.

Therefore, parallel to its species preservation and reproduction activities, the breeding ground provides a regularly monitored visitation program for first and second grade students, providing them with a true environmental education class in the outdoors.

The Conservationist Breeding Ground on São José Farm is located in the municipality of Itirapina, 200 km from the city of Sao Paulo.

To register your school in the visitation program, participate in the project, or for any other specific information, send an e-mail to criadouro@institutoarrudabotelho.org.br