From Hunters to Custodians: The Eco-Sentient Awakening in the Mountains of Antioquia

Abstract

This paper describes the shift from a relationship of conflict to one of environmental stewardship between peasant communities in western Antioquia — particularly in the Frontino-Urrao Páramo Complex — and local wildlife. Historically, subsistence practices such as agriculture, livestock farming, logging, and mining, together with hunting, generated a relationship of fear, misinformation, and persecution toward key species such as the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus), the black-and-chestnut eagle (Spizaetus isidori), and the puma (Puma concolor). The bear was hunted for crop damage and unfounded beliefs. The eagle was feared as a bad omen and blamed for the loss of domestic animals. The puma was persecuted based on assumptions of livestock attacks.

The "Techo de Agua" project and organization emerged as a driver of transformation toward an "eco-sentient" outlook, promoting dialogue and awareness-raising. Through workshops, community monitoring, and intergenerational conversations, perceptions of the Andean bear have evolved from hatred to expectation and care. The presence of the black-and-chestnut eagle was documented by a young peasant, which helped demystify the species and generate fascination and respect, educating people about its ecological role and value. With the puma, although the process has been more challenging, the goal is to understand it not as a threat but as a victim of habitat reduction, promoting coexistence. This initiative has led to the formation of the "Cloud Forest Custodians Network," a group of peasants and former hunters who, motivated by conviction, are learning to read the territory and protect these species, recognizing nature's intrinsic value. The paper concludes that this profound shift reflects a new way of inhabiting and feeling, in which humanity sees itself as an integral part of a living ecosystem that, when cared for, reciprocally provides well-being.