66
J.E. Conde
Mylossoma duriventris, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, P. tigrinum, Brachyplatystoma rousseauxi, Hoplosternum littorale and Plagioscion squamosissimus (Novoa et al. 1984). Several aquatic mammals are widely distributed
in the delta. The most common mammal is the freshwater dolphin Inia
geoffrensis (tonina) while other species, like the river dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis, the manatee Trichechus manatus, the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the long-tailed otter (Lontra longicaudis) are rare (Meade and
Koehnken 1991; Linares 1998).
The Orinoco Delta has a rich bird fauna (178), including 39 species of
aquatic birds and 13 Limicolae (Lentino and Bruni 1994). The red (Eudocimus ruber) and white ibis (Eudocimus albus), as well as Ara ararauna,
Todirostrum maculatum and Buteogallus aequinoctialis, are among the
most common species. The last two species and Coccizus melacoriphus are
typical mangrove inhabitants. Reptiles in the delta are represented by the
spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), the tegus (Tupinambis nigropunctatus), turtles (Podocnemis unifilis, Phrynus gibbus, Chelonia mydas), and
the iguanids Plica umbra and Spilotes pullatus (MARNR 1991). Only one
species (the agouti Dasyprocta guamara) of the 96 mammals recorded is
endemic to the delta and San Juan River floodplain (Linares 1998). Typical
terrestrial species are the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis),
paca (Agouti paca), kinkajou (Potos flavus), racoon (Procyon cancrivorous), capibara (Hydrocharis hydrocharis) and the red howler (Alouatta
seniculus) and ring-tail monkeys ( Cebus olivaceous).
4.4 Human Impact and Exploitation
For more than 7,000 years Warao-like people have lived in the vicinity of
the Orinoco Delta. Today, approximately 21,000 Warao Indians live in
groups of 50-100 individuals and represent the principal ethnic group in
the delta (Wilbert 1994-1996). The Warao (canoe or sandbank people) are
semi-nomadic harvesters or sustain a semi-agricultural way of life. They
cut mangrove timber to meet their basic needs and exploit seven species of
palms for food, medicine and raw materials. About 40% of their time is
spent fishing the more than 38 species which are part of their diet (Heinen
1988). As long as they follow traditional ethno-ecological codes, Warao
people interact with the delta in an ecologically sound way because they do
not overexploit resources and hunt fish, rodent and bird species with high
reproductive capacity and short gestation time (Ponte 1995; Wilbert
1994-1996).
J.E. Conde
Mylossoma duriventris, Pseudoplatystoma fasciatum, P. tigrinum, Brachyplatystoma rousseauxi, Hoplosternum littorale and Plagioscion squamosissimus (Novoa et al. 1984). Several aquatic mammals are widely distributed
in the delta. The most common mammal is the freshwater dolphin Inia
geoffrensis (tonina) while other species, like the river dolphin Sotalia fluviatilis, the manatee Trichechus manatus, the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the long-tailed otter (Lontra longicaudis) are rare (Meade and
Koehnken 1991; Linares 1998).
The Orinoco Delta has a rich bird fauna (178), including 39 species of
aquatic birds and 13 Limicolae (Lentino and Bruni 1994). The red (Eudocimus ruber) and white ibis (Eudocimus albus), as well as Ara ararauna,
Todirostrum maculatum and Buteogallus aequinoctialis, are among the
most common species. The last two species and Coccizus melacoriphus are
typical mangrove inhabitants. Reptiles in the delta are represented by the
spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus), the tegus (Tupinambis nigropunctatus), turtles (Podocnemis unifilis, Phrynus gibbus, Chelonia mydas), and
the iguanids Plica umbra and Spilotes pullatus (MARNR 1991). Only one
species (the agouti Dasyprocta guamara) of the 96 mammals recorded is
endemic to the delta and San Juan River floodplain (Linares 1998). Typical
terrestrial species are the tapir (Tapirus terrestris), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), jaguar (Panthera onca), ocelot (Leopardus pardalis),
paca (Agouti paca), kinkajou (Potos flavus), racoon (Procyon cancrivorous), capibara (Hydrocharis hydrocharis) and the red howler (Alouatta
seniculus) and ring-tail monkeys ( Cebus olivaceous).
4.4 Human Impact and Exploitation
For more than 7,000 years Warao-like people have lived in the vicinity of
the Orinoco Delta. Today, approximately 21,000 Warao Indians live in
groups of 50-100 individuals and represent the principal ethnic group in
the delta (Wilbert 1994-1996). The Warao (canoe or sandbank people) are
semi-nomadic harvesters or sustain a semi-agricultural way of life. They
cut mangrove timber to meet their basic needs and exploit seven species of
palms for food, medicine and raw materials. About 40% of their time is
spent fishing the more than 38 species which are part of their diet (Heinen
1988). As long as they follow traditional ethno-ecological codes, Warao
people interact with the delta in an ecologically sound way because they do
not overexploit resources and hunt fish, rodent and bird species with high
reproductive capacity and short gestation time (Ponte 1995; Wilbert
1994-1996).