Former Colombian Hostage Turns to Birding to Rehabilitate Ex-Rebels
Diego Calderón Franco, a researcher and birding guide, was once kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 2004 and held hostage for 88 days. Years after his release, Calderón Franco has taken an unconventional approach to reconciliation by introducing his former captors to bird-watching. This initiative aims to provide former FARC fighters with new career opportunities as birding guides. The FARC, a far-left guerrilla group, was involved in a long-standing conflict with the Colombian government, which ended with a peace agreement in 2016. Following the agreement, nearly 10,000 fighters laid down their arms and sought new livelihoods. Calderón Franco believes that birding, which is thriving in Colombia due to its rich biodiversity, can serve as a healing and unifying activity. Colombia's diverse geography supports a vast array of bird species, making it an ideal location for birding tourism. 
