Deer populations of
Brazil have been on a steady
decline due to loss of habitat
and poaching by colonists. In
the largest reservation of the
South American continent in
central-west Brazil, Xavante
Indians occupy a natural area
of 229,000 ha, bordering the
Rio das Mortes, a principal
tributary of the Araguaya
river in the state of Mato
Grosso.
This reservation, known
as the Rio das Mortes Avante
Reservation of Pimental
Barbosa, stands as a model of
preservation of natural areas
through the use of-indigenous, traditional empirical
knowledge. It shelters four
species of deer - marsh deer,
pampas deer, red-brocket
and grey-brocket deer.
Ninety per cent of the area's
physiology is intact, but deer
is one of the main diet of the
Xavante and therefore it is
hunted throughout the year.
A study carried out in
1991-93 found that hunting
was concentrated in 30 per
cent of the territory for many
years and mainly two species
of deer, the marsh and pampas deers were affected due
to hunting. The tribal council voted against a hunting
ban for certain species, and
hunting was restricted to the
borders of the territory or
kept at a distance from the
overhunted area. A rotative
hunting system and tax
exemption incentives will
also be introduced. These
initiatives have improved
conditions for the recovery
of the deer populations.
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