A momentous first in Argentina! (Photographs by Sebastián Navajas)
Miní, a wild jaguar born in the Ibera wetlands, thanks to releases from our offspring organization Rewilding Argentina, was translocated to El Impenetrable National Park, where she will be released in several months to play a key role in the recovery of this top predator in the Argentine Chaco. Translocations of wild animals for conservation purposes are very rare in Argentina, but joint actions between different provinces and the National Parks Administration are changing that. Just one year ago, there were no female jaguars in El Impenetrable. With two females released earlier this year and two more on their way, there’s real hope for a viable population of jaguars in the park.
None of this would be possible without the incredible teamwork behind the scenes—from wildlife trackers to veterinarians, and the support of communities and local governments in Chaco and Corrientes Provinces. Bold actions like this translocation and other rewilding efforts are ways we can directly combat the twin crises of biodiversity loss and climate change. The restoration of top predators and other keystone species is proven to have positive impacts on the resilience of ecosystems and their ability to store carbon.
In Iberá Park, the first jaguars were released into the wild a little more than three years ago, and today the population is robust enough to contribute to the recovery of the species at other sites. We continue to work so that these ecosystems can become complete and fully-functioning, serving as models for rewilding and ecosystem restoration around the world.
