Fernando Vidal Fauna Adina

aving Chile's Endangered Wildlife: Fernando Vidal's 24-Year Mission
In this captivating interview, we sit down with Fernando Vidal, a former airline employee who has dedicated the past 24 years to protecting Chile's threatened native species. Fernando shares his inspiring journey of establishing Fauna Andina, a wildlife reserve focused on rescuing and breeding animals like pumas, guignas (the smallest cat in the Americas), and the endangered huemul deer.
Highlights:
- How Fernando and his wife used their life savings to purchase land for the reserve in 2000
- The challenges of pioneering captive breeding techniques for elusive species like the guigna
- Successfully reintroducing captive-bred guignas back into the wild in areas where they had disappeared
- Overcoming the odds to breed the critically endangered Andean huemul after experts had failed
- The daily struggles of protecting the reserve's animals from poachers
Fernando provides insights into the guigna's biology, revealing how their slow reproductive rate makes conservation efforts all the more critical. He also discusses the politics surrounding wildlife rehabilitation in Chile and the urgent need for more funding to expand breeding facilities and hire rangers.
This video sheds light on the tireless work of a conservation hero unknown to much of the world. Fernando's dedication to Chile's iconic species is an inspiration to all who care about protecting our planet's biodiversity. Learn more about Fernando at bigcatrescue.org/fernando-vid...
You can donate to help this project at:
bigcatrescue.salsalabs.org/Gi...
Keywords: Chile wildlife, guigna, huemul, puma, conservation, endangered species, rescue, captive breeding, animal rehabilitation, wildlife reserve, poaching
BIG CAT TV is a close look into the wild cat conservation efforts we support, and the exotic feline residents of Big Cat Rescue who we now support at Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge. Big Cat Rescue is a registered non-profit 501c3 so your donations are tax deductible.
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[@cathysilva9223]

Fascinating Cats! Never heard of Guinas before but they are stunning little Cats! This man is most dedicated & I would surely help him if I could. Have they talked to Panthera? That’s a group that has been involved in trying to save the Pumas. Maybe they would help study these Cats in their environment & even help out with $?
I take it you want to help him save them? I approve wholeheartedly! In fact, I was encouraged when I saw you Carole, as I know this is a part of your mission now & I’d like to know how it’s going. 😺♥️🐈‍⬛

[@bigcatrescue]

We are working with a number of conservation groups to raise money to help save these cats in the wild. You can find the details at BigCatRescue.org/Insitu. Our annual Give Day is May 7, 2024 and we hope to raise money for 4 different conservation groups. You can donate to help this project at:
bigcatrescue.salsalabs.org/GiveDay2024