PROPOSAL FOR THE VIRTUAL CENTRE FOR NEO-TROPICAL WILDLIFE

  Aims

1.     To develop a working and productive farm for the production and conservation of useful tropical plants.

 2.     To develop a productive animal farm with domestic animals and wildlife species that are native to Trinidad and Tobago. Emphasis will be placed on the Agouti (Dasyprocta leporina), Deer (Mazama Americana), Quenk (Pecari tajacu, Tayassu tajuca), Iguana (Iguana iguana), Lappe (Agouti paca) and other local species which have demonstrated the ability to be reared in captivity.

 3.     To offer these working and productive collections for recreation, conservation, education and research for the benefit of humanity

  Objectives

• To produce and multiply the animals for animal science and production research

• To develop and improve on the production systems for these animals

• To act as a demonstration center for the production of neo-tropical animal wildlife species

• To produce and maintain a breed register and stud book for these selected neo-tropical animal wildlife species

• To produce animals for sale to farmers as breeding stock

• To produce animals for reintroduction into and repopulating the wild

• To operate and develop the center as an agro-tourism enterprise.

• To develop a Neo-tropical Animal Industry

  Dr. Gary W. Garcia, Ph.D., Department of Food Production, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine.  Updated: 1-Sep-2012