POPULATIONAL COMPOSITION AND ETHOLOGY OF Bradypus variegatus IN FRAGMENT OF TROPICAL DRY FOREST, CORDOBA - COLOMBIA

Objective. To contribute to the knowledge of the population composition and etology of the lazy bear (Bradypus variegates) in the Natural Reserve Viento Solar, fragment tropical dry forest in Municipality of Moñitos, Department of Córdoba. Materials and methods. During October of 2004 and May of 2005, direct counts with visual observation were carried out in the main path of the reserve, transects of one kilometer of long x 100 m of wide were done. It was registered the number of observed animals, nutritious habits for visual registration, composition for sex by means of marked natural and they were carried out observations on the animal behavior. Observations of behavior and activities of displacement were made on day, with annotations on their ecology, and important aspects for the conservation. Results. In the month of January, 70 individuals registered, with a composition of 31% males, 53% females and 16% breeding. During the dry time of the year, (JanuaryApril) most of the arboreal vegetation deciduous leaf, diminishing in important form the foliage of the trees, that it facilitated the population’s count. The vegetation of tropical dry forest is dominated by Pseudobombax septenatum whose foliage is very felt like by the lazy bear. Conclusions. The data showed that the population composition of the species in the natural reserve is mainly conform by mature individuals, with a low proportion of breeding, that it could be reflecting problems of population growth it likely to readiness and poor habitat quality