In a landmark move to combat the extinction of a rare hummingbird, the Indianapolis Zoo has awarded a $1 million grant to an Ecuadorian conservation group, Fundación Jocotoco. The zoo's inaugural Saving Species Challenge selected the organization's project to save the Blue-Throated Hillstar, an avian species discovered a mere seven years ago in the Ecuadorian Andes. The grant aims to bolster the population of these birds that have been pushed to the brink of extinction.
As outlined in a FOX59, the Blue-Throated Hillstar, found solely in the 24-square-mile area of the high-altitude Chillan Mountain range, faces continuous threats from mining and habitat destruction caused by burning. With these critical challenges in play, the Indy Zoo made clear that their funding will support Fundación Jocotoco's efforts to expand the conservation reserves critical to the hummingbird's survival.
"We are witnessing a global decline in biodiversity, and the Indianapolis Zoo is determined to make a positive difference," Indianapolis Zoo President Robert Shumaker said in a press release. Moreover, Inside Indiana Business reported that the Fundación Jocotoco plans to hire a coordinator to work with local communities on practical conservation strategies and nature restoration within the newly expanded reserve.
According to a report by IndyStar, Martin Schaefer, the executive director of Fundación Jocotoco, is upbeat about the initiative. "The Indianapolis Zoo’s Saving Species Challenge award allows us, within five years, to increase the population by 300%," he conveyed, projecting a hopeful future for the Blue-Throated Hillstar.
The significant donation follows in footsteps of the Indianapolis Zoo's continued commitment to conservation efforts worldwide, involving stakeholders in a bid not just to preserve, but rejuvenate ecosystems. Fundación Jocotoco's track record with avian conservation, such as their success in increasing the Pale-Headed Brushfinch population, was a key factor in their selection, mentioned both by the Indianapolis Zoo President and by Schaefer during a virtual news conference.
