A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

334 MARINE AND COASTAL
PROTECTED AREAS
Photo by John Clark.
21. Trinidad: Dilemma of the Scarlet Ibis in the
Caroni Swamp Wildlife Sanctuary
Introduction
Caroni Swamp in western Trinidad covers an area of 5611 ha and contains the largest
expanse of mangroves in Trinidad. A wildlife sanctuary of 135 ha was established there
in 1953 to give protection to the resident population of Scarlet Ibis, which numbered
nearly 10,000 birds at that time. The Ibis was of great cultural and economic
importance, having been adopted as a national bird and forming the focus of a fast
developing tourist business (Figure III-19). The sanctuary was extended in the
following years to a total of 199 ha, as the original area did not contain enough of
the bird’s feeding and nesting habitat (Bacon & ffrench, 1972).
Without a doubt, Caroni Swamp has achieved a great measure of success as it
is well known locally and internationally as a prime ecotourism destination. However,
its future will be jeopardized if breeding failure by the Scarlet Ibis leads to the loss
of its key attraction.
FIGURE III-19.
Guiding tourists to the Caroni Wildlife Sanctuary in Trinidad is
a profitable business.
Protection of the sanctuary was
provided by the Forestry Division of
the Ministry of Agriculture, through
specially assigned game wardens.
However, the limited facilities of
Forestry, and the later established
Wildlife Section, proved inadequate
against continuing illegal hunting
and other forms of disturbance, even
during the nesting season. Protection
of the small sanctuary area was
rendered difficult because of virtually
uncontrolled resource use throughout
the remainder of the swamp. Hunting
and disturbance of the Scarlet Ibis was reduced, but numbers declined slightly even
while the numbers of visitors began to increase.