BIRDING PEOPLE - Guyana Birding News Vol 1
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Duane de Freitas, General Manager of Dadanawa Ranch
Situated in the vast savannahs of Guyana's South Rupununi, Dadanawa Ranch has a long, rich history that includes stints as both the world's largest cattle ranch and the virtual home base for Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom, one of North American television's first wildlife shows. Today, visitors can combine some cattle rustling with their birding, although naturalists often find themselves too distracted by one of Guyana's most diverse ecosystems to get around to helping the vaqueros.
Dadanawa cradles the foothills of the Kanuku Mountains, a range that is home to 70 percent of Guyana's known mammal species and more than 50 percent of Guyana's avifauna. It has been declared by Conservation International to be one of the few remaining pristine Amazonian habitats. Exploring the ranch and vast surroundings by Land Rover, boat, and foot offers the possibility of viewing the endangered Red Siskin, a population of which was recently found in the forested mountains nearby, and of seeing nests of Harpy Eagles and Jabiru Storks, roosting Yellow-crowned parrots, and Guianan Cock-of-the-Rock leks. Wildlife also abounds in the region and many visitors see jaguars, tapirs and other of Guyana's 225 species of mammals.
Manager of Dadanawa Ranch, Duane de Freitas, was kind enough to take some time away from his busy schedule—which varies from overseeing Guyana's largest cattle ranch, to leading river trips into some of Guyana's most remote areas—to answer some questions for us.
Where in Guyana were you born? Georgetown
When did you move to the Rupununi? In 1969 I landed at Wichabai in a Dakota and drove three miles into Dadanawa where I started a new and completely different life.
What made you decide to move to the Rupununi? I wanted to experience the life of a vaquero, as I had often visited the Rupununi as a child and had fond memories of those times.
Did you grow up with a deep love of nature or did that develop after moving to Guyana's interior? I grew up with a love of nature, as my father worked in many of the interior areas of Guyana and as a young boy I used to travel with him all over Guyana. My love of nature did and does develop more every day living here.
When did you become General Manager of Dadanawa and how did you end up taking on this role? I became General Manager of Dadanawa in July 1983 after returning from Canada where I was studying Agriculture at the University of Guelph. I learned the life of a vaquero at Dadanawa from the very bottom, and after considering my love of the open spaces of the savannah and my interest in cattle, horses, sheep, and general wildlife—and with my further education complete—I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life at Dadanawa.
When did you start working as a nature/tour guide? Was it originally tourism or scientific/research based? It's hard to say exactly when I started as a nature tour guide. My first experience with guiding was not with nature tours but as a Guyana guide for the 1992 Camel Trophy Rally from Manaus, Brazil, to Georgetown. Previous to that I had occasionally provided logistical and local guiding services to institutions such as Tropenbos International and the Smithsonian Institution on botanical and other scientific-based expeditions. These expeditions sparked a deeper interest in us to develop our knowledge of the surrounding natural environment. This really only continued a long tradition at Dadanawa of working with institutions. Stan Brock, the General Manager before me (and Wild Kingdom star), worked with and for various museums and other institutions contributing to the knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Rupununi.
Can you please give us more information on Rupununi Trails, the tour company that you run with your wife, Sandy? We started Rupununi Trails in 1994 with adventure, scientific research, and nature in mind. We also focus on designer trips, working with people who do not want the usual tourism fare or have something specific in mind. The Rupununi is unspoiled, untouched, and truly one of the most pristine areas on the globe. Rupununi Trails consists of several ranches spread over 4,000 square miles that cooperate on many levels to give visitors to the region the best chance to see and do as much as possible.
Our trips typically have groups of between two and eight people and range from one to three weeks. We often travel to very remote areas where the surroundings are pristine and the birdwatching and wildlife viewing are excellent.
Basically we operate in the southern part of Guyana from the Takutu River (on the border with Brazil) eastwards to the Essequibo River, and occasionally go further afield. We run birding trips in and around the Kanuku Mountains and in the savannah and bush islands at Dadanawa Ranch. We also explore the remote jungle by boat, enjoying birdwatching, wildlife spotting, and camping along the way.
Do you have any scientific research going on or trips of interest planned? Currently at Dadanawa, I am collecting data on jaguar populations in the South Rupununi using GPS technology. I hope to use the information I gather to establish a jaguar conservation unit. We are collecting info on such things as sightings, tracks, and kills over a wide range along with dates and GPS-referenced locations. We would eventually like to trap and radio-tag some individuals so their range and movements can be recorded, however, we are still looking for partners with the right equipment and expertise.
Can you provide us with any recent news coming from the South Rupununi Conservation Society (SRCS) run by your son, Justin? The SRCS continues its work with the protection of the Red Siskin and research into its range, habitat, breeding, and feeding. The SRCS is also working out plans for a River Turtle project along the Rupununi River.
For more information on Dadanawa Ranch and Rupununi Trails, visit www.rupununitrail.com, or send Duane an email at defreitasduane@yahoo.com.
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