Big cat comeback: Jaguars prowl Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands after 70 years

[UngulateNerd92]

It’s been 70 years since jaguars left their round, four-toed footprints in the ground of the Iberá Wetlands, a 1.3-million-hectare (3.2-million-acre) tract of swamps, waterways and islands in northeastern Argentina’s Corrientes province. But things are changing now.

Two weeks ago, conservationists opened up a pen that held two 4-month-old jaguar cubs, Karai and Porã, and their mother, Mariua, giving them free and open access to Gran Iberá Park, a 709,717-hectare (1.75-million-acre) park established in 2018 by the NGO Tompkins Conservation. This release is part of a grand scheme to rewild the Iberá Wetlands by reinstating several species, including the jaguar (Panthera onca), which was driven to local extinction due to hunting and habitat loss.

Big cat comeback: Jaguars prowl Argentina’s Iberá Wetlands after 70 years

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

It was programmed, just needed to be realised. At last after years of species and habitat restoration the top predator is back in Corrientes province on Ibera wetlands.

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

This documentary was recently released by Al Jazeera on the rewilding efforts at Ibera:

 

[UngulateNerd92]

This documentary was recently released by Al Jazeera on the rewilding efforts at Ibera:

Thank you, it looks interesting and I look forward to watching it.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

This project is one that my hometown zoo is supporting, esp. the Yaguarete project. It gives a sense of pride of place that the project has gone into its final phase - release of the top predators back to Ibera -!

 

[Onychorhynchus coronatus]

This project is one that my hometown zoo is supporting, esp. the Yaguarete project. It gives a sense of pride of place that the project has gone into its final phase - release of the top predators back to Ibera -!

True, positive news in a very dark time, I really admire what they are doing in Ibera.

 

[Kifaru Bwana]

I seriously DO believe that private enterprise and endeavours by wealthy individuals, be they local or foreign, can play a major role in rewilding initiatives and restoration and recovery efforts for all flora and fauna, habitats and entire ecosystems. The challenge is to get those individuals on board in nature conservation coupled with local economy alternative income resolutions.

And: I do not mean the land grab greedy hoards that currently are destroying our common wildlands ....