Renewing Hope for the Blue-throated Hillstar

We are thrilled to announce that Jocotoco has won the Indianapolis Zoo's inaugural Saving Species Challenge, securing a one million dollar grant to protect the incredible Blue-throated Hillstar! This Critically Endangered hummingbird, a true gem of the high-altitude páramo in southern Ecuador, faces the very real threat of extinction. Thanks to this transformative funding, we can now embark on a bold five-year mission to protect its fragile home.?

The Indianapolis Zoo launched this challenge with a powerful goal: to fund a plan capable of changing the fate of a species currently on the brink of extinction. The challenge aimed to improve the status of one species listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Extinct in the Wild by the IUCN Red List. Remarkably, 52 applications were submitted from 46 countries, each presenting a detailed five-year roadmap to halt the decline of a species in a measurable and sustainable way. Jocotoco's proposal to save the Blue-throated Hillstar was the winning proposal.?

"We are witnessing a global decline in biodiversity, and the Indianapolis Zoo is determined to make a difference. The goal of the Saving Species Challenge is to drive change and serve as a model for the role of modern zoos in conservation, and I am confident the Blue-throated Hillstar can be saved," said Dr. Robert Shumaker, Indianapolis Zoo President & CEO.

The Blue-throated Hillstar (Oreotrochilus cyanolaemus) is a truly captivating species. It was first discovered in 2017 and is found only in a small, remote corner of the western Andes in southern Ecuador, between the provinces of El Oro and Loja, at elevations above 3,000 meters (9,800 feet). Its range is tiny, only 62.7km2 (24.2 square miles). This rare hummingbird thrives in isolated patches of shrub páramo, where the bright orange blossoms of Chuquiraga jussieui provide the vital nectar it relies on for survival. It nests in caves formed in rocky outcrops at the tops of mountains.?

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has classified the Blue-throated Hillstar as Critically Endangered, mainly due to habitat loss caused by mining, overgrazing, and frequent fires. Its total population is perilously small, estimated to be between 80 and 110 mature individuals.?

To protect the Blue-throated Hillstar, Jocotoco established the Cerro de Arcos Reserve in 2020 with the support of American Bird Conservancy, Rainforest Trust and Zoo Basel. Now the reserve covers more than 600 hectares (1,500 acres). Our conservation efforts include partnerships with the Universidad del Azuay and the Universidad San Francisco de Quito, allowing us to better understand their feeding habits, locate their nests, and assess their reproductive success. We also restore its habitat by planting 11 key native plant species essential to its survival, thereby ensuring a sustainable future for both the species and its ecosystem.

"With funding from the Saving Species Challenge, we will work closely with local communities to ensure the Blue-throated Hillstar's survival and expand the reserve. We know we can succeed because we've done it before, like saving the critically endangered Pale-headed Brushfinch. Once reduced to just 50 individuals, Jocotoco protected the brushfinch's last habitat, and the population quickly increased fivefold." said Martin Schaefer, our CEO.

Our vision for the next five years is nothing short of transformative: to lift the Blue-throated Hillstar from the brink of extinction. Through effective conservation, habitat restoration, and collaboration with local communities and universities, we can change its fate and ensure that this magnificent hummingbird continues to fly freely in its páramo home. Together, with dedication and passion, we can create a bright future for the Blue-throated Hillstar and its fragile ecosystem.

You can help save the Blue-throated Hillstar by DONATING HERE.