Rewilding Argentina reintroduces guanacos to the Chaco Seco region

Rewilding Argentina, in collaboration with Parques Nacionales and the provinces of Chaco and Santa Cruz, moved a group of guanacos to the Parque Nacional El Impenetrable in Argentina.

The guanaco, a large herbivorous mammal and the wild ancestor of the llama, had been absent from the Chaco Seco region for over 110 years. This operation represents the largest terrestrial wildlife translocation for conservation purposes ever conducted in the world.

The animals traveled 3,200 kilometers from the Patagonia region to reach their new habitat. Rewilding Argentina sourced the animals from a healthy population in Parque Patagonia, where researchers conducted studies on genetics, health, and abundance to ensure they were suitable for relocation. The organization used adapted trailers and temperature controls to manage the journey, followed by a period in holding pens to help the animals adapt to the new environment before their final release.

The regional extinction of the guanaco in the Chaco Seco was caused by intensive hunting, livestock farming, loss of grasslands, climate change, and fire. Rewilding Argentina notes that the absence of large herbivores like the guanaco contributes to ecosystem degradation because these animals control grass growth, disperse seeds, and provide food for predators. The project aims to establish stable populations to restore the ecosystem and potentially foster wildlife tourism in the economically lagging area.