Assessing the Status of the Huemul in Northern Patagonia to Create a Binational Corridor and Ensure Its Long-Term Conservation.
Residents of the Puelo River basin had long claimed that the huemul lived in the area. However, lacking clear information or concrete evidence of its presence, we didn’t want to rely on assumptions. That’s how, in mid-2018, the project 'Develando el estado de conservación del Huemul en la Patagonia Norte para su conservación a largo plazo' was born.
The huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) is a deer native to southern Chile and Argentina, with an estimated population of fewer than 2,000 individuals. Habitat loss and modification have pushed the species into increasingly remote areas. In addition, invasive species such as wild boar pose a growing threat to its territory.
Under the technical guidance of the Wildlife/Rewilding team at Tompkins Conservation (now Rewilding Chile) and with local support from Puelo Patagonia, the first images of huemul in the northern Andean-Patagonian basin of the Puelo River in the Los Lagos Region were captured using camera traps—providing clear evidence that the species is indeed present in the area.
After long and challenging days in the rugged and steep mountain range surrounding the Puelo area, the research team successfully identified several individuals. These were found in the high mountain zones, even above the typical vegetation line. The huemul has been forced to migrate to these isolated areas to escape the ongoing threats present in its natural habitat.
The field findings and camera trap images represent the first evidence gathered in an ongoing study. The goal is to analyze all collected data to determine effective conservation strategies for the huemul and its habitat in both Chile and Argentina. Like the condor, the puma, and many other Andean species, the huemul inhabits an ecosystem that spans both countries.
This project is carried out thanks to funding from National Geographic, Wild Lama, Garuga, NGOs, and other organizations that support this monitoring and conservation effort.
Este proyecto es llevado adelante gracias al financiamiento de National Geographic, Wild Lama, Garuga , ONGs y otras organizaciones que apoyan este trabajo de monitoreo y conservación.
Take a look at some of our records from 2019:
