Curassows, guans and chachalacas : status survey and conservation action plan for Cracids 2000-2004
2000
Brooks, Daniel M. |
González-Garcá, Fernando |
Pereira, Sergio Luiz |
Strahl, Stuart D. |
The family Cracidae is made up of 50 species of guans, curassows and chachalacas - large gregarious game birds, many of which have striking colours. They are important as seed dispersers, biological indicators of the environment, a major protein source for indigenous people, and for ecotourism. Nearly half the species in the family are threatened and several have been pushed to near extinction by wide-spread destruction of tropical forets and over-harvesting.