The anaconda Project started in 1992 as a
multi-institution project involving the Convention for the International Trade
of endangered Species (CITES), Profauna (the
Venezuelan Fish and Wildlife Service) and The Wildlife Conservation Society
(WSC). In 1994 CITES and Profauna stopped sponsoring,
Profauna kept a mere administrative role as the
institutional representation of the project in Venezuela. The National
Geographic Society (NGS) along with WCS continued sponsoring the
project in the following years. Economic contributions from Consejo
Nacional the Ciencia y Tecnologia (CONICIT) and The University of Tennessee were
also important sources for the project.
John Thorbjarnarson (from WCS) came up with
original idead and initial funding, and has been technical
adviser from the beginning. Maria Munoz was my field assistant during the first
years of the research (while the funding lasted to hire helpers). Gordon
Burghardt is my scientific and academic adviser, Bill Holstrom
(from Bronx Zoo, WCS) was very helpful in the capture of animals and
experiments made in captivity. Paul Calle has been the veterinarian at hand and
many other people such as Rafael Ascanio, Carlos Chavez, Shao-shing
Chu, Neil Ford, Frank Indiviglio, Cesar Molina, Renee
Owens, and Andrew Travollacci figure (alphabetically) among the many helpers
that came in several years challenging the heat, the leeches, and the
"swamp itch" to help me catch and subdue the "big girls".