On January 6, 2003 an expedition of researchers from the Sociedad Cientçfica Amigos del Parque Nacional Henri Pittier, and rangers from Inparques, the Venezuelan National Park Service, rediscovered a population of the Rancho Grande Harlequin frog in a ravine on the Caribbean side of the coastal mountains within Parque Nacion¶l Henri Pittier. This frog was featured in several recent articles about the plight of amphibians, including an article in the May 2001 National Geographic. There have been no confirmed reports of observations this species since 1982, leading some to speculate that it may have become extinct. The expedition was conducting a biological inventory on a transect from Rancho Grande Biological Station to the coastal town of Cata. This population was discovered after the expedition had altered its original path because of rough terrain to a ravine in the Rio de Cata drainage. Rafael Fen¶ndez, the expedition coordinator, observed a single individual, then the group encountered several as they moved through the ravine. This appears to be a healthy local population, which may have been congregating to breed along this mountain stream. |
General Political Unrest in Venezuela
For nearly a year, Venezuela has been experiencing political and economic instability. There are deep divisions between supporters of President Hugo Chavez and his opposition that led to a debilitating 2-month strike in December and January. It has resulted in temporary shortages of gasoline and other manufactured and imported items as well as controls on foreign currency exchange. This situation presents challenges to working within Venezuela and working as an international partner with a Venezuelan-based group. Students and researchers working in Venezuela are facing a variety of challenges from interruption of classes at the University, to transportation difficulties, to increasing unemployment and salaries that have dramatically decreased in relation to the devaluation of Venezuelan currency. However, to date, the crisis has had remarkably little violence and has mostly consisted of non-violent street protests. This speaks well of the Venezuelan people's commitment to finding a political solution not a violent solution to this problem. We support and admire their tolerance for each other's differences at this difficult time.
Impacts to the U.S. chapter's ability to work as a partner with the Venezuelan chapter are thankfully very few. We are working on methods of transferring funds from membership fees and other fund-raising efforts to the Venezuelan chapter for upcoming expeditions and Proyecto Migratorio in the fall. We are hoping to conduct a field class in Venezuela in October, but are configuring the trip for the contingency that it may have to be cancelled if U.S. State Department travel warnings persist.
In this time of crisis, the need for a partner organisation is stronger than ever. In this difficult economic time, financial support for the Sociedad's expeditions and research projects will provide much needed jobs for the students and researchers working in the park. Additionally, I believe it is important to contribute positively to the situation and show our support and optimism for the future in this most difficult time.