Creation of a system for the identification and collection of wild food sources.

With the help of some colleagues, I have designed, developed, and implemented a methodology for identifying and locating wild food sources (such as leaves, flowers, and fruits) for primates, which was later applied to psittacines.

In the context of a rescue center (Cabuya, Costa Rica), acquiring specialized knowledge and applying it is not easy, especially when most of the staff are volunteers (1-4 months). Therefore, creating a system that allows them to identify and locate a wide variety of wild food sources for the animals at the center in a short period of time is no simple task.

The system essentially consists of practical training for volunteers in the identification of plant species of interest, along with the creation of a catalog of these species that allows them to identify them in my absence.

Additionally, a methodology has been developed to locate the sites of each food source in the area surrounding the rescue center, creating an interactive map that is easily shareable and usable offline, so that anyone with it can find the food and also update the map if new sites of interest are identified.

Finally, a WhatsApp group has been created to regularly share and exchange any relevant information regarding the collection of wild food for the animals, as a way to keep all involved parties informed and up to date on the activity.