USE AND CONSERVATION OF CRACIDAE (AVES, GALLIFORMES) IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

Four species of the avian family Cracidae were studied in the Pacaya-S amiria National Reserve in north-eastern Peru. These large-bodied bird s are an important source of protein for local communities on the peri phery of the reserve. An estimated 425 kg of Cracidae biomass were har vested over a I-year period by three communities. Pipile cumanensis wa s the most frequently hunted bird, both in terms of individuals hunted and biomass extracted. Mitu tuberosa and Penelope jaquacu also made u p a substantial amount of the biomass extracted, but were hunted less frequently. Densities of all species of Cracidae within 5 km of the vi llages were substantially lower than in the interior of the reserve. O ur results suggest that M. tuberosa and P. cumanensis are overharveste d and P. jaquacu and Ortalis guttata are harvested within the maximum estimated sustainable levels. In this study hunting grounds were along waterways and adjacent to protected populations, which created a sour ce-sink arrangement. If sink areas are overhunted, the unhunted popula tions inland of the waterways could be acting as source populations th at replenish overhunted areas.