{"id":11041,"date":"2025-06-05T15:58:17","date_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:58:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/?post_type=noticias&#038;p=11041"},"modified":"2025-06-05T15:59:33","modified_gmt":"2025-06-05T15:59:33","slug":"sorprendente-registro-de-vizcacha-con-cicatrices-en-cochamo-aporta-datos-claves-para-su-conservacion","status":"publish","type":"noticias","link":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/noticias\/sorprendente-registro-de-vizcacha-con-cicatrices-en-cochamo-aporta-datos-claves-para-su-conservacion\/","title":{"rendered":"New Sighting of Injured Mountain Vizcacha in Cocham\u00f3 Valley Yields Valuable Conservation Data"},"content":{"rendered":"<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">Thanks to the use of camera traps and a citizen science program, this sighting helped identify a colony of Patagonian vizcachas in a single area\u2014marking a significant milestone in understanding the range of this elusive and little-studied species.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li class=\"\">The sighting took place within the Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn estate\u2014a 133,000-hectare privately owned property in Cocham\u00f3 that has been up for sale since 2022. Five national and international organizations are currently working to acquire the land for conservation purposes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1918\" height=\"1078\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?fit=800%2C450&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?w=1918&amp;ssl=1 1918w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?resize=1536%2C863&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?resize=18%2C10&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-con-cicatrices.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">A few days ago, the NGO Puelo Patagonia shared a sighting of a Patagonian Vizcacha (<em>Lagidium wolffsohni<\/em>), in the Trinidad Valley of Cocham\u00f3, showing a scarred face and a missing piece of ear. The image was captured by camera traps installed in December 2024 as part of a participatory wildlife monitoring program led by the NGO Puelo Patagonia, together with the Organizaci\u00f3n del Valle Cocham\u00f3 and the Club Andino Cocham\u00f3.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The image drew attention not only because of the visible scars on its body but also because it confirmed the presence of at least four different individuals in the same area. The organization notes that it\u2019s impossible to determine whether the scars resulted from escaping a predator or defending its territory. However, these distinctive marks allowed researchers to identify the individual and confirm that multiple vizcachas inhabit that territory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video\"><video height=\"1920\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 1080 \/ 1920;\" width=\"1080\" controls src=\"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Reel-Explicativo.mp4\"><\/video><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This is especially important because the species is classified as \u201cVulnerable (VU)\u201d under Chilean law and listed as \u201cData Deficient (DD)\u201d by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The habitats where this species lives make it difficult to spot, so Puelo Patagonia emphasizes that this finding is particularly valuable for adding data on its geographic distribution, discovering new populations, and observing its behavior and natural history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cSince 2018, we have been continuously monitoring various areas within the Puelo and Cocham\u00f3 watersheds. We know that threats still affect this and other species, such as habitat fragmentation and loss, invasive species, and climate change, among others,\u201d said Andr\u00e9s Diez, Executive Director of the NGO Puelo Patagonia. \u201cOne of the main goals of this study is to gather information that will help us take measures to mitigate these threats,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1334\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?fit=2000%2C1334&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11047\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?w=2000&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?resize=1536%2C1025&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?resize=18%2C12&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Creditos-Daniel-Pastene-6.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This discovery not only expands scientific knowledge about the species but also highlights the ecological value of the area where it was found. 'In Cocham\u00f3, a well-known place, this little-known species lives. Through this monitoring program, we are focusing all our efforts on learning more about its natural history in order to implement conservation strategies that protect its ecosystem in the long term,' said Fernando Novoa, wildlife veterinarian and lead researcher of Puelo Patagonia\u2019s monitoring program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">According to the veterinarian, this is good news because, in addition to being social\u2014that is, living in colonies\u2014this species plays an important role as a biological indicator of the ecosystems it inhabits.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">\u201cThis rodent, as a herbivorous species, plays a key role in seed dispersal and shaping the vegetation composition of its habitat. Finding it with a wider distribution is good news because it indicates ecological balance in the area,\u201d Novoa explains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1440&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11048\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C576&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?resize=18%2C10&amp;ssl=1 18w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Vizcacha-de-la-patagonia-8-scaled.jpg?w=2400&amp;ssl=1 2400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>A Key Habitat for the Vizcacha<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This discovery took place within the Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn estate, a 133,000-hectare property that represents 30% of the Cocham\u00f3 municipality and has been on the market since 2022. Through the Conserva Pucheg\u00fc\u00edn initiative, five organizations have been fundraising in Chile and worldwide for the past year to purchase the land with the goal of conserving it.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">According to the initiative, conserving this land will help establish a cross-border biological corridor spanning more than 1.6 million hectares between Chile and Argentina\u2014an essential habitat for species like the Vizcacha.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1200\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?fit=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11049\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?w=1600&amp;ssl=1 1600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?resize=1024%2C768&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?resize=768%2C576&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?resize=1536%2C1152&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/puelopatagonia.cl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Pucheguin.jpeg?resize=16%2C12&amp;ssl=1 16w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">According to Puelo Patagonia, the presence of the vizcacha in the area is a sign that optimal conditions for wildlife still exist there. 'We know that the vizcacha has managed to adapt to ecosystems that are increasingly vulnerable. Finding them in groups or colonies indicates that this place is well conserved, which is why protecting it is urgent if we want to ensure their survival and that of other species,' said Novoa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Learn more about this initiative at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.conservapucheguin.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">www.conservapucheguin.org<\/a>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"featured_media":11044,"template":"","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categorias_noticias":[],"class_list":["post-11041","noticias","type-noticias","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticias\/11041","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticias"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/noticias"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticias\/11041\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11054,"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/noticias\/11041\/revisions\/11054"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11044"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11041"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"categorias_noticias","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/puelopatagonia.cl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categorias_noticias?post=11041"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}