AUTHORS: Fausto A. Elvir-Valle, Fundación en Ciencias para el Estudio y Conservación de la Biodiversidad de Honduras; José F. Moreira-Ramirez, El Colegio de la Frontera Sur, San Francisco de Campeche, Campeche, México; Iveth S. Henriquez-Ortiz, Investigador Independiente; Adolfo Artavia-Rodriguez, Investigador Independiente; Ricardo Moreno, Fundación Yaguará Panamá, Investigador Asociado al Instituto Smithsonian de Investigaciones Tropicales y National Geographic Emerging Explorer; Arnulfo Fitoria, Investigador Independiente; Héctor O. Portillo-Reyes, Fundación en Ciencias para el Estudio y Conservación de la Biodiversidad de Honduras; Jo Anne M. Smith-Flueck*, Laboratorio de Teriogenología "Dr. Héctor H. Morello", Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Univ. Nac. Comahue, Cinco Saltos
ABSTRACT: In Central America three species of cervids occur: the white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus (Zimmerman, 1780), the red brocket, Mazama temama (Kerr, 1792) and the Yucatan brown brocket, Mazama pandora (Merriam, 1901). A literature review and consultations with experts from Central American countries about its conservation of cervids, comes from studies using camera traps and records by sighting of technicians. Guatemala, Mexico, and Belize are the only central American cojntries with all 3 species. Distribution records come from the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve in Belize and the Ejido of Nuevo Becal in Mexico (Moreira et al, 2018). In Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama, only the first two species are reported. The white-tailed deer (O. virginianus) shares the same common name throughout Central America and is distributed homogeneously throughout each country. Mazama temama has different common names, tilopo or güisisil, red goat, red deer or red brocket deer and its presence is restricted to primary forest. Its range of distribution includes diverse ecosystems and different altitudinal gradients. Information on population densities of the three species is limited although there have been estimations for white-tailed deer in Honduras and El Salvador. The species are included in the lists of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the Convention on International Trade in Species of Flora and Fauna (CITES) with some status of protection or monitoring. Cervids are of the most persecuted species by humans and natural predators, such as jaguar (Panthera onca), puma (Puma concolor), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and coyote (Canis latrans). As prey species, they are important in the structure of biotic communities (Marineros and Martínez, 1998, Portillo et al, 2015). Cervids are under strong pressure due to habitat loss and the increase in poaching (Secaira, 2013, Portillo et al, 2015). Poaching is a serious threat faced by these species in the region because their meat is valued for its good taste, protein value (in some cases it is the only available protein source). Its habitat loss is due to the advance of the agricultural frontier and infrastructure projects. Wild species have been captured and bred in zoos, exhibition centers and private collections and they have been raised with some ease, although in conditions not appropriate for the species. Even when cervids are resilient, precise studies of ecology and phylogeny are required to implement conservation projects at a regional level.
