Rare Sighting of Endangered Cozumel Curassows

The lush jungle surrounding the San Gervasio Archaeological Zone in Cozumel, managed by the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation (FPMC), has become a natural haven. This sanctuary attracts diverse wildlife, providing a place for them to feed, rest, and hydrate. Recently, this ecological hotspot facilitated the sighting of three endangered Cozumel curassows (Crax rubra griscomi), an endemic bird species.

This sighting underscores the importance of the FPMC's conservation efforts. The foundation works tirelessly to maintain habitats, ensuring that various species of flora and fauna have adequate spaces for growth and reproduction. The foundation's general director, Juanita Alonso Marrufo, emphasized this point.

The three curassows, two females and a male, were spotted by the staff at the tourist spot. The team documented the rare encounter with photos and videos. These records were later analyzed by Paulina Sabido Villanueva, a graduate in Natural Resources Management and Head of the Conservation Department (CEA), and biologist Héctor González Cortés, assistant director of the Punta Sur Ecotourism Park.

The significance of this sighting lies in the fact that the Cozumel curassow is the only cracid (a family of birds native to jungles) present on the island. The species is currently listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List and is also considered endangered according to NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010.

The Cozumel curassow primarily feeds on plants, fruits, seeds, and possibly small invertebrates found in the jungle's leaf litter. Its breeding season runs from March to July, during which it can lay up to two eggs in a nest made of small branches and leaves.

While current studies on the species are lacking, researcher Miguel Ángel Martínez Morales estimated in 1998 that around 300 Cozumel curassows inhabited the island. This bird species plays a crucial role in the germination and dispersion of plant seeds like zapote, caracolillo, and ramón.