Help recover Rheas population in Chilean Patagonia

In an historic joint action to recover vulnerable populations of Darwin’s rhea (Rhea pennata), multiple organizations have aided the successful translocation of 15 individuals from Argentina to Chile. It’s the first international translocation of a wild population for release in the Southern Cone.

An emblematic species of the Patagonian steppe, rheas maintain healthy grasslands by dispersing seeds to renew vegetative growth. In Chile’s Aysén region, grasslands have become depleted by over a century of overgrazing, and hunting, and nest destruction has threatened the species’ survival. While the rheas have traveled only fifty-five miles (90km) to their new home, their journey would have been impossible otherwise, as livestock fences and canines stand in the way of natural dispersal.

The group comes from Patagonia Park in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina, where conservation efforts by Rewilding Argentina, with the support of Freyja Foundation have helped restore a healthy population. “We have sourced individual rheas from healthy and abundant populations in Patagonia Park, Argentina with minimal impact to the group,” said Sebastian Di Martino, Conservation Director of Rewilding Argentina. The project is expanding scientific understanding of the species’ habits and spatial ecology, through observing interactions, population dynamics and use of territory via GPS technology and telemetry.

Known as ñandús in Chile and choiques in Argentina, these large, flightless birds reach 1.10 meters in height and weigh twenty kilos. To mitigate concerns of avian flu, the Darwin’s rheas undertake veterinary exams and quarantine, both in their place of origin, and upon arrival in Chile, where they will adapt to their new environment in holding pens leading up to their release.

Cristián Saucedo, the Director of Wildlife for Rewilding Chile, is optimistic about rewilding becoming a mainstream tool to stem biodiversity loss. He states, “The protocols to restore species across borders didn’t even exist until now. Yet, out of necessity, our institutional systems are evolving to be more dynamic and responsive to crises. It’s an exciting time for rewilding.”

Kris Tompkins, President of Tompkins Conservation, is celebrating the news: “Today we’ve hit a historic milestone for rewilding. If we want to reverse the mass extinction crisis, international cooperation is going to be essential. I’m very proud of the work of our offspring organizations, and hope to say that this action broadens our expectations in restoring nature, because nature knows no borders.” 

Entities key to the translocation include the provinces of Santa Cruz, the Chilean Forestry Service (CONAF), the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), Freyja Foundation, Rewilding Argentina and Rewilding Chile.

Links:

• Rewilding beyond borders: The first southern cone collaboration