Faunal survey in Colombia

In 2017, members of Harmusch carried out a faunal survey expedition to Colombia, one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet. The expedition was part of the association's international vocation to broaden knowledge of the fauna of little-studied regions, applying the experience gained in arid and mountainous environments to tropical ecosystems.

The team traveled through various parts of the country documenting birds, reptiles, and mammals through transects, direct observation, and photographic recording. Colombia's species richness — which is home to nearly 10% of the world's biodiversity — offered a unique opportunity to compare faunal inventory methods developed in the Sahara with the demands of the humid tropical forest and the Andean ecosystems.

This expedition represented Harmusch's first foray into South America, adding Colombia to the list of regions explored by the association, which includes the Sahara, Senegal, the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco, India, and Argentine Patagonia. The preliminary data obtained contribute to knowledge of Colombian biodiversity and reinforce Harmusch's ability to work in very diverse ecosystems.