SEASONALITY AND VULNERABILITY OF WILD FAUNA ADMITTED IN CURITIBA, PARANÁ

Abstract

This study characterized 11,903 admissions at the Wildlife Support Center (CAFS) in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, between January 2019 and October 2024, evaluating taxonomic composition, seasonality, causes of admission, clinical conditions, conservation status, outcomes, and spatial distribution. Associations between categorical variables were evaluated using chi-square tests, and records were spatially mapped by Paraná municipalities and Curitiba neighborhoods. Birds represented 78.03% of admissions, followed by mammals (17.43%) and reptiles (4.15%). Seasonal variation was observed, with a higher concentration of records in spring (37.70%) and summer (32.14%) and a greater proportion of young individuals (55.47%). Voluntary drop-offs accounted for 80.11% of admissions, while 26.33% of the animals were reintegrated into nature. A total of 31 threatened taxa were recorded, representing 340 individuals, highlighting the relevance of CAFS for conservation medicine. Curitiba concentrated 75.60% of the records, with admissions also originating from municipalities across the Metropolitan Region. Data from CAFS allowed the identification of temporal, taxonomic, and spatial patterns associated with the interaction between wild fauna and human activities, providing subsidies for recognizing threats, defining priority areas, and planning public policies and conservation strategies.