Opossums and zero waste in Ciudad Universitaria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22201/cuaieed.16076079e.2023.24.1.1Keywords:
conservation, wild mammals, REPSA, RSU, urbanizationAbstract
The National Autonomous University of Mexico implemented in 2013 a separation system of urban solid waste (RSU) in Ciudad Universitaria, with the intention of making an efficient separation of garbage and reducing the ecological impact. Nevertheless, some wild mammals which live in Reserva Ecológica del Pedregal de San Ángel (repsa) and the surrounding green areas that have remnant rocky areas, such as opossums (Didelphis virginiana), get trapped inside the garbage containers in their attempt to obtain food. Without anyone’s help they could die, since they are not able to get out, because the containers are deep and smooth. This is just one more of the survival challenges wildlife faces, particularly opossums. Despite previous information that has been shared in social media to help this species, such situation remains an unknown problem for most of the university community. Thus, in this text, actions are proposed to know what to do in case an opossum is found in a trash container, with the purpose of contributing to the conservation of this misunderstood animal.
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