A subtle revolution is happening deep in Colombia.
More than a quarter of a million solar panels at El Paso are quietly going about their job. But a secret process is unfolding underneath the arrays.
Prey species of wildlife are moving in, appreciating the “sanctuaries.”
But motion cameras recorded the remarkable moment one elusive predator decided to make the panels its home.
What rarely seen cat is covertly thriving inside Colombia’s largest solar farm?
What set off a transformation in El Paso
Enel Green Power is the international energy powerhouse behind the El Paso Solar Park in Colombia’s picturesque César region.
It’s the first large-scale solar endeavor of its kind in the country. The solar farm leaves a massive footprint with 250,000 photovoltaic panels and supporting infrastructure.
Its installed capacity is 86.2 MW, supporting around 100,000 homes. This is an incredible figure for Colombia.
Yet, the El Paso farm has had an unexpected effect on wildlife.
The fencing off of the solar farm has created a secure perimeter. The land is undisturbed by hunting and deforestation, and animals were quick to take advantage.
Species that have never even seen such high-tech equipment before think it’s the perfect setup for living.
In fact, one of Earth’s most secretive and shy mammals was recorded moving in with her whole family.
What is it about an industrial power plant that could attract a creature ordinarily so reclusive?
The rewilding of an industrial energy park
There’s so much more to El Paso Solar Park than glass and steel.
The facility has evolved into a thriving ecosystem under its strict Plan de Manejo Ambiental (Environmental Management Plan). The installation is now being used as a vital biological corridor and refuge.
Biological monitoring has revealed a rich diversity of native fauna. One of them is the lesser anteater (tamandúa). Its presence, captured through camera traps, is a great sign, proving that ideal levels of insects and vegetation are flourishing directly under the panels.
But the motion-activated cameras went on to deliver even bigger surprises, says Enel Colombia.
Researchers noticed a distinct shift brewing in the data. The predator-prey dynamics were shifting.
A mystery mammal smaller than a jaguar but super protective was spotted prowling through the solar arrays in the darkness.
What kind of apex predator looks at a bunch of shiny, man-made PV panels and sees a perfect nursery?
An epic catalyst and a win for green-on-green strategies
After more intense monitoring of the camera footage, the mystery was solved.
A mother tigrillo (Leopardus tigrinus, or oncilla, or northern tiger cat) was spotted moving her cubs into the fenced-off solar park. Foxes have been known to do the same.
The sight of the rare, elusive, and human-hunted native wild feline marked a historic milestone. She actually moved her family of vulnerable cubs (crías) in instead of merely using the area to hunt as a lone wanderer.
The question is, why would such a threatened species known for hiding far from humanity choose an industrial site for a family home?
Enel Green Power created a unique environment
In the fenced-in confines of the solar farm, deforestation and hunting are no longer threats.
There’s also a thermal bonus. The workings of the panels inadvertently provide shade under the blistering César heat with a synthetic canopy.
They also act as shields from birds of prey above.
And finally, there are the hunting benefits. The rich vegetation under the panels supports an abundance of small rodents, insects, and lizards. What more could a nursing mother tigrillo want?
The happy family proves a powerful point. With smart planning, clean power projects can actually reverse biodiversity loss.
Is green energy going to end up being the driver of future wildlife conservation?