Guardian of the Heights: The story of Fernando Males in Chakana

"I am from Pintag, my parents are from Pintag too. My father is from the community around the Chakana Reserve and he worked at Hacienda Antisanilla. My grandfather was from the community around the nearby Secas Lagoon, so my family has always been in this area. When I was a child, they shared with me their experiences as chagras (rural people with great horsemanship skills) and we grew up riding horses here in the páramo. Now my own family lives here as well. My wife Cristina works in ecotourism. Chakana is very important in my life," says Fernando.

In Chakana, as part of our conservation efforts, we have formed an alliance with the Chagras de Pintag Association to patrol the reserve and prevent illegal hunting of protected species such as the Andean Condor and Spectacled Bear.

"My parents have a property in front of Chakana, and my father is a member of the Chagras de Pintag Association. It was through them that I learned about Jocotoco. At first, I worked for the association, taking care of the cattle, but I always had the dream of working with Jocotoco. Finally, I had the opportunity to become a park ranger, and now I take care of the páramo and its amazing plants and animals. I can raise awareness among the people of the community," explains Fernando.

Our reserve is part of the buffer zone of the Antisana National Park and the large conservation mosaic that includes Sumaco Napo-Galeras and Cayambe-Coca National Parks. The total protected area is more than 1,480,000 acres (600,000 hectares).

In this unique páramo environment, we are developing several strategies for the protection of endangered species. This includes work monitoring the Spectacled Bear, a collaborative project with the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, in which our park rangers are actively involved. Fernando shared his experiences with the project:

"I really like being able to take care of the Spectacled Bears here in Chakana. We have learned how to use the camera traps and to distinguish the markings on each bear so that we can identify them. One day I saw a bear with her cub. It was in 2016. The baby bear had a mark on his forehead and we decided to name him Rayito. He was very active and loved to play on the páramo. Then his mother left him alone to start his adult life, and a year ago we saw him with a female that he had joined to mate with. I have seen Rayito grow up here at Chakana."

Rayito is the first bear to be fitted with a GPS collar by the research team, which will allow them to monitor his movements and take the necessary actions to protect this species on a regional scale. This species of bear roams across large territories. Protecting them will require a combination of scientific research, the use of advanced technology, and active community participation.

"I would like to ask people to help us take care of the Spectacled Bears because they are wonderful animals. If we don't protect them, they could disappear. We have to support them so that they have a safe place in our páramo," says Fernando. As he spoke, his pride and passion for his work was clear. "We must learn to live with them and take care of them. I want to continue participating in these wildlife conservation projects and protecting the beauty of Chakana."

Fernando Males urges us to take care of these wonderful creatures and their environment. Now we invite you to join us in this cause. Your donation will help ensure the safety of the Spectacled Bears and all of the wildlife of the páramo. Donate today and be part of the mission to protect Ecuador's unique beauty and priceless biodiversity!