SHOONEM
The Ganydar Foundation has worked with the Shoonem Foundation to create a sanctuary for the endangered South Andean deer (huemul or Shoonem indigenous language).
SHOONEM
WHY THIS PROJECT?
The Ganydar Foundation has worked with the Shoonem Foundation to create a sanctuary for the endangered South Andean deer (huemul or Shoonem indigenous language).
Description
The Shoonem Foundation is a charitable foundation in Argentina under Argentine law and aims to protect the South Andean deer, the largest mammal. This noble endangered animal has been scientifically studied for more than 30 years by a group of international experts
biologist, including Dr Werner Flück, a respected scientist from Basel, Switzerland.
It is estimated that there is now only a population of a few hundred deer on both sides of the Andes.
Objectives
In addition to the noble goal of protecting the largest living animal mammal in the Andes, over a period of 3 to 5 years, the entire project will have a significant positive social impact for dozens of families, learning new skills and a sustainable way of life in a region affected by exodus, and a local economic impact of more than USD 250,000 in local supplies, infrastructure construction and salaries.
Activities
The Shoonem Foundation has obtained that an area of about 100'000 ha be classified as a natural park under provincial protection. The park is located about 400 km from the next airport and the largest city in the province of Chubut, in Patagonia, Argentina.
Under the leadership of Werner Flück, they have started to build the infrastructure, training young local professionals as park rangers, carpenters, construction workers building the necessary local infrastructure and shelters.
The project was able to start with financial support from the Swiss Erlenmeyer Foundation in Basel for the construction of a fenced breeding area so that the females could breed without being stressed by predators such as Pumas, a practice that has been scientifically proven and tested in Chile. The Erlenmeyer Foundation has committed itself to the project on condition that the Ganydar Foundation guarantees the training of local craftsmen for three years.
Budget
Location
Latin America and the Caribbean, currently Argentina.
Duration of the program
3-5 years old
Christoph F Schaer, initiator of the Natura programme
Christoph F Schaer, co-founder and board member of the GANYDAR Foundation launched the Natura module for Ganydar and helped to realize the marriage of the Erlenmeyer grant commitment with the support of Ganydar.
He has been advising the Shoonem Foundation on financial matters on a voluntary basis for 5 years.
Christoph F Schaer, initiator of the "Natura" programme.