Rewilding Argentina Updates from the Field
Rewilding Argentina projects keep moving forward on the ground and we want to share the latest updates with you (April 2021).
JAGUARS
Rewilding Argentina is working on releasing a foundational population of jaguars to restore the species to the Ibera wetlands. The first release happened in January. The second family group, an adult female named Juruna and her two cubs, were transferred to the 30-hectare pre-release pen, where they will remain for a few weeks before being released.
The three free jaguars, Mariua and her cubs, have moved south, mostly using the wetland habitat. Several clusters indicating that they have been successfully hunting have been registered. Most of them correspond to capybaras and feral pigs.
Cubs play in the wild
GREEN-AND-RED MACAW
After a 150-year absence, this species is once again flying free in the wetlands. The first two chicks born in the wild continue to develop well. Every day they fly longer distances, mainly in the company of their father. They have started to eat native fruit on their own, but still continue to receive food from their father daily.
Father feeding his chicks
GIANT ANTEATERS – SUCCESSFULLY LIVING IN THE WILD!
The GPS harnesses of two giant anteaters were removed after their successful release into the wild one year ago. This species is typically monitored for one year post-release to ensure adequate adaptation, especially during the winter season, when food is harder to find.
One of the anteaters after the harness removal
GIANT RIVER OTTER
The top aquatic predator of the wetlands, giant river otters went extinct in the middle of the 20th century. A mating pair now living in a pre-release pen will be the first to return. Coco, the male otter, was observed through camera traps moving three pups out of the natural burrow that he had built with the female some months ago. Sadly, the pups were not seen again, and Coco and Alondra began to copulate days after, which is common behavior when their offspring is lost. In order to increase the survival chances of future pups, a second artificial burrow will be placed with an internal video camera system that will allow our team to monitor and assist the offspring immediately after birth.
Coco taking a pup out of its natural burrow
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Community engagement is one of the key elements contributing to successful conservation. Talks about the jaguar reintroduction project were given to tourism guides and provincial park rangers who offered very positive feedback. Also, members of the Forestry Partnership (an organization of entrepreneurs in forestry production) visited the Jaguar Reintroduction Centre and took interest in the project.
Juan, the community engagement coordinator, continues his visits to the local residents. People are usually curious about jaguars and ask him many questions. He now uses a newly acquired tablet to show jaguar pictures, information, and videos.
Juan showing videos of the jaguars to local people
PATAGONIA AZUL
SEA CLUB
Educational activities continue to be carried out in the Patagonia Azul project as part of the Sea Club, which aims to connect people from the town of Camarones with the ocean. This time, it was through educational games, kayaking, and sea bird watching. The participants learned how to use binoculars for the first time and to recognize shorebirds.
Sea Club participants during a bird watching activity
PUMA CUBS – PATAGONIA PARK
Sable and her cubs were registered in video for the first time! In November, we noticed the female puma behavior to be changing, she constantly visited the same area and significantly decreased her range. We later found the bush where she had given birth, confirming our suspicions. For that reason, we have kept our distance so she doesn’t feel threatened. Recently we were able to capture her and her two cubs on-screen, by maintaining a considerable distance. Click here to watch the video.
WOLFFSOHN’S VISCACHA – NEW TRANSLOCATIONS!
Four Wolfsohn’s viscachas were translocated to the Caracoles Canyon as part of the Patagonia Park project. Three of the individuals have remained together and have settled in a perfectly sheltered spot. The fourth individual is an adult female that was released on a rock wall where two previously released “single” males live.
Translocation of a Wolffsohn’s viscacha
All photos in this post are courtesy of Rewilding Argentina.
A driving force to curb the worldwide climate emergency and the biodiversity crisis, Tompkins Conservation protects, rewilds, and defends land and marine ecosystems in the Southern Cone through collaborating to create national parks and rewilding key species. Working with public and private partners, the organization has helped to create 13 national parks, protecting 14.5 million acres. The goal is to restore a healthy planet with big, wild, and connected landscapes where animals and plants can thrive. This also means helping to build robust communities that benefit from a healthy natural world.
Kristine McDivitt Tompkins and Douglas Tompkins (1943-2015) founded Tompkins Conservation after leading iconic American clothing brands—Kristine as longtime CEO of Patagonia Inc, and Doug as co-founder of The North Face and Esprit. Changing course in the early 1990s to focus on conservation, they became two of the most successful conservation philanthropists in history. After Doug lost his life in a tragic kayaking accident in 2015, Kristine has continued to build on their foundation. She is now the president of Tompkins Conservation and a UN Environment Patron of Protected Areas.
A 501(c)(3) public charity, Tompkins Conservation carries out conservation projects through the nonprofit network of Rewilding Chile and Rewilding Argentina.