Pawi Updates
January 2011
Update on Phoenix, the rescued Pawi
Phoenix is the injured Pawi which was removed from the possession of a north coast community member through the actions of the Trini Eco Warriors in December 2010. The bird sustained injuries to its left eye and had four pellets in its wing. Its tail feathers are also missing. Two of the pellets were removed and the eye has been treated. The tail feather are expected to re-grow in time. The bird is now at the Wildlife Orphanage and Rehabilitation Center (WORC) run by Detta Buch where it is recovering. It is eating well and can now reach high perches in the flight cage at WORC which it is sharing with a Muscovy duck. |
Phoenix at WORC (Photogapher: Alesha Naranjit) |
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Pawi Represented at International Conference
The World Pheasant Association's 5th International Galliformes Symposium was held last November in Chiang Mai,Thailand. This symposium serves as opportunity for galliforme specialists, reserachers and enthusiasts to come together to share ideas and advice concerning research and conservation of the species belonging to this family. The Pawi, or Trinidad Piping-Guan is the second most endangered galliforme worldwide and is considered an international conservation priority.
For this reason, Kerrie Naranjit, a student of the University of the West Indies was invited to present her Mphil research on the pawi (supported by the Environmental Management Authority), and was able to represent the Pawi Study Group at the symposium . The Symposium provided the opportunity to meet with galliforme specialists who are dealing with similar conservation issues. The interest and support of international specialist is helping to increase local capacity to promote the recovery of the species. Their advice and guidance will continue to be helpful to the development of new methods of research and conservation approaches.
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PSG Partnering with GLWF to enable Community Conservation Research
Last year, the PSG began collaborating with the Guardian Life Wildlife Fund on their Pride in Pawi project providing both a scientific advice and education for their Community Pawi Surveys in the Northern Range (around Matlot, Grande Riviere, Matura, Brasso Seco and Blanchisseuse). We gave the community members an update on what is presently known about Pawi and have lead training sessions on data collection and equipment use. By the end of these sessions the community members had a better understanding of the kind of information scientists need to further understanding and protection of the species and how their data will help to protect the Pawi.
PSG aslo agreed to provide a database for the GLWF project team to input survey data collected and we will also analyse the data. The database has been created and is being tested before delivery to GWLF project team. Data analysis will be done and appropriate presentations will be created to relay the results of the Pawi surveys to the communities involved. Community Pawi Surveys will continue until March 2011 at which time the GLWF funding for this project will end. If possible we will try to obtain additional funding to extend these surveys.
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Formalization of the PSG
The Pawi Study Group has been in existence since 2004 but we have recently (2010) made the decision to formally register as an NGO. Last year we created a PSG constitution and had our first elections. This year we will complete the formalization process by registering with the Company’s Registrar of Trinidad and Tobago. We have started the process by registering for a Name Search and Reservation to request the use of the name the Pawi Study Group. Results of this search should be available next week at which point we will be able to continue by submitting the articles of incorporation and related documents and become a fully registered NGO within the next few months.
