A wide variety of wild fauna at CSG

Jogging with primates

The CSG’s 690 km2 have become a kind of nature reserve for wild fauna. Hunting is prohibited there and access is controlled which means that animals are not disturbed. Here is an overview of some animal inhabitants of the site, acquired from accounts by firemen from the Paris brigade and site rangers who are the privileged observers of this fauna.

Within the site, there are snakes, tortoises, caimans, birds and mammals. Near the buildings, firemen are often called upon to deal with snakes (about one per week). Thanks to them, ‘the problem’ is quickly resolved by capturing the animal and releasing it in an area where there are no people.

Contrary to common beliefs, very few species of Guianese snakes are dangerous for people. On the other hand the CSG is proud to have some of the last rattle snakes in French Guiana on its site. There are also anacondas. In the rest of the department, these have been wiped out due to their appearance. Luckily the firemen on the site protect them.

Calmness, food and safety

Birds quickly understood that the CSG provided them with calm, food and safety. The biggest colony of scarlet ibis, a protected species, nests very close to the site. The ara manilata (red-bellied macaw) have chosen to nest close to the facilities in the launch area.

An observation campaign conducted for the launch of Ariane 509 revealed that there was a species of birds which had hitherto not been known in the department: the Sporophila nigricollis (yellow-bellied seedeater).
There are also a lot of birds of prey on the site and many lesser seed-finches. The latter are very popular in French Guiana since they feature in bird song competitions throughout the region. Unfortunately, due to them being captured in their natural surroundings, this species is gradually disappearing from French Guiana.

There are many mammals, including very rare species, which are entirely protected, such as the jaguarondi (a black predator smaller than the jaguar), the giant ant-eater, the tamandua (a smaller ant-eater than the giant ant-eater and with a beige colour), the tayra (a sort of large marten), the common otter, etc. Less rare species which are nevertheless interesting such as the capybara (the biggest rodent in the world) and hinds, sloths, tatous (armadillos) or tapirs, have been observed.

Such shy animals

As for primates, four of the eight species known in French Guiana have been observed in the inner site: golden handed tamarin, saimiris (squirrel monkey), howling monkeys and capuchins.

It would appear that there is even a puma. This is very good news since just like the jaguar, it has also been persecuted in French Guiana. However these animals are very shy when they encounter people, often just exchanging looks very quickly and then disappearing. However, you should never run away from them (even if you are jogging on the space road) since just like a house cat, they will take your behaviour for a game and then start chasing you.

It is important to protect wild animals in French Guiana since they are threatened by intensive hunting which is quite common in the département, trade in animals and also road traffic.

Since 1966, an annual agreement has been implemented between CNES and the national forestry office (ONF) for stewardship of the forest heritage of CNES in French Guiana. The ONF is responsible for surveillance, maintenance and preserving this heritage. This concerns the forest area on the Base but also the Montagne des Singes (monkey mountain) and its facilities (carbets [shelters], botanical nature path), as well as the carbets on the right hand bank of Kourou which are also part of CNES property.

Likewise, a partnership agreement is being considered between CNES and the National office for the hunting of wild animals (ONCFS) to study forest cervidae (deer) in French Guiana.

Cécile Hansen, at the ONCFS says “the idea is to take advantage of the fact that in some areas of the CSG hunting is entirely prohibited in order to monitor wild animal populations. In other words, to count them, to capture them in order to tag them and then to monitor them. For the moment, we are considering a study of cervidae, in particular, hinds known as Mazama (red brocket and cariacou). Depending on the results, these areas could become control areas for the coastal sector.”

This project should be undertaken shortly and we will keep you informed as soon as it is underway.

Practical information :

• For further information, contact the Office National de la Chasse et de la Faune Sauvage.
  Phone: 05 94 22 80 65
  Tél : 05 94 22 80 65
• If ever you find a sloth wounded or in difficulty, please contact the association Chou aï (Tel. 05 94 30 76 37) or the zoo of French Guiana for all wild animals Tel. 05 94 37 86 07 (or 05 94 31 73 06)