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At the Santa Sofia Reserve in Aquidauana (MS), a group of eight capuchin monkeys and eleven toucans, rescued from various situations, are beginning their rehabilitation journey. These temporary new residents of Santa Sofia have found refuge in enclosures designed to simulate their natural habitats, receiving the care they need to eventually return to the wild.

With four dedicated enclosures prepared to host primates, birds, big carnivores, and other wild animals, the reserve offers the ideal environment for recovery, adaptation, and reintroduction. Each space was designed to encourage natural behaviors and support the readaptation process for each individual.

Approved by the Government of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul as a wildlife release area since 2021, the Santa Sofia Reserve has expanded its infrastructure to host the enclosures that make up Onçafari’s Wildlife Reintroduction Center.

It is within this context of supporting the reintroduction of wildlife that the PremieRpet® Institute partners with Onçafari. Since 2021, the Institute has supported the Reintroduction front, enabling various animals to undergo rehabilitation and have the opportunity to return to their natural habitat. This partnership at the Santa Sofia Reserve reflects one of the main areas of action of the PremieRpet® Institute, which, in addition to promoting shelter medicine for dogs and cats in NGOs, actively invests in environmental conservation projects like this one, aimed at the recovery and reintegration of wildlife species into their natural environments.

NEW RESIDENTS OF THE RESERVE

Brazil is among the countries with the largest forest coverage in the world; it is a true guardian of nature. Despite such natural wealth, Brazilian forests face increasing pressures and urgently need conservation actions.

Forest Protection Day is celebrated on July 17th, and for Onçafari, protecting wildlife means protecting the forest too. We work across four biomes with strategies since wildfire prevent to animals reintroduction, building ecological corridors, and strengthening biodiversity.

Discover on our blog why conserving forests is conserving life and how each of us can be part of this mission.

FOREST PROTECTION DAY

Did you know that around 40% of the jaguars recorded in Grande Sertão Veredas National Park are melanistic (black)? Melanism, a genetic mutation, is a rare condition found in less than 9% of the global jaguar population. Since monitoring began in 2024, the project has already identified 25 individual jaguars, which eight of them are melanic!

This monitoring effort, on the Minas Gerais side of the park, is part of the project "Jaguars – Guardians of the Grande Sertão Veredas", supported by the Semente Platform, an initiative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Minas Gerais, in partnership with CeMAIS. The project is helping expand knowledge about the jaguar population in the Cerrado biome.

The project uses 64 camera traps distributed across 32 sampling points to monitor the region’s wildlife, with a special focus on jaguars. The goal is to understand activity patterns, kinship relations, and population size, as well as to map threats that may jeopardize their survival.

GUARDIANS OF THE SERTÃO PROJECT

The hyacinth macaw, with its vibrant feathers, has become the state bird of Mato Grosso do Sul; a tribute to an iconic species of the region and a symbol of Brazilian biodiversity.

The decision celebrates the conservation work carried out by the Arara Azul Institute (Hyacinth Macaw Institute) over the past decades that helped bring the species back from the brink of extinction. In the Pantanal, where Onçafari operates, hyacinth macaws continue to captivate tourists and researchers frequently spotted at partner lodges and conservation areas.

BIG DAY OF HYACINTH MACAWS

The event will take place on August 16th and 17th, a movement that turns nature observers into conservation allies.

The idea is simple: if you spot a hyacinth macaw, note the date, time, location, and, if possible, take a photo or video. These observations will be sent to the Hyacinth Macaw Institute, which will compile all the data into a collaborative database.

It’s citizen science in action open to anyone, anywhere the species occurs. You don’t need to be an expert. Just look up to the sky, listen closely, and bring your willingness to contribute.

Check out how to submit your sighting through the official channels of the Hyacinth Macaw Institute!

BIG DAY OF HYACINTH MACAWS

The establishment of a new office in Brasília, which hosts our Anti-Fire front, reinforces our commitment to preventing and fighting wildfires.

Established in 2024, the front continues to grow in both structure and qualified personnel, focusing on monitoring, planning, integrated fire management, firefighter training, and other essential actions to protect biodiversity and Brazil’s biomes.

FIRE PREVENTION FRONT

At Onçafari, being a “Jaguar’s Friend” is a big deal!

By joining this initiative, you help protect endangered species and conserve Brazil’s unique biomes. Your support becomes a real impact, from research and animal reintroductions to fire prevention, wildlife monitoring and more.

I WANT TO BE A JAGUAR FRIEND

ECOTOURISM

Have you ever thought about experiencing an adventure in the heart of the Cerrado?

At Pousada Trijunção, right in the Cerrado, it is possible to make this unforgettable experience. Among other activities, by joining safaris organized by Oncafari you have the chance to observe the maned wolf, an iconic animal of the biome, up close in a protected area.

How about embarking on this adventure and also contributing to the conservation of our wildlife?

Send an email to [email protected] to learn more about the tours!

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Sent by Onçafari
Avenida Magalhães de Castro, 4.800, 603 Torre 3
Jardim Panorama – São Paulo/SP – Brazil – ZIP Code: 05676-120

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