ABOUT
THE HUEMUL
Everything you need to know about the most endearing mammal of the Andes Mountain Range.
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Huemul are primary consumers, holding a crucial place in the energy transfer that occurs between trophic levels. native predators of the Huemul include the Puma and fox
The coat of the Huemul is slightly oily to enable swimming capablities, allowing it tow swim in glacial lakes and dry off quickly (Taylor P., 2021)
Huemul eat grasses, leaves, and tender shoots. Variety of plants in Huemul diet varies between subpopulation. Recently, forest fires, livestock grazing, and invasive species have threatened the Huemul food supply
IMPORTANCE TO ECOSYSTEM.
The Huemul, or Hippocamelus bisulcus, lives in territory mostly composed of periglacial scrubland- rocky bluffs, wetlands, and open grasslands.
Recently, approximately 101 subpopulations of Huemul have formed due to severe habitat fragmentation, which isolates each subpopulation- disuniting a once united species. Each subpopulation has varying living habits. The Huemul are herbivores and primary consumers, their diet consisting of leaves, tender shoots, and grass. As primary consumers, they hold a crucial place in the energy transfer that occurs through trophic levels. The Huemul also regulates plant growth (allowing for balanced species diversity and species evenness), is important prey to the equally adorable fox and puma, and is the only large mammal of the South Andean Range (Black-Decima, 2018).
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The expansion of the urban landscapes in Chile and Argentina encroaches into the range of the Huemul, and provinces that include the Huemul’s range have increased in population size by 57-100% in recent history. Areas within the Huemul's habitat have been highly sought-after for development and human inhabitance. As economic developments continue to push into Huemul-inhabited environments, the amount of existing Huemul will continue to decline.
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Another large business, eco-tourism, is highly connected to Huemul. Because of the rarity of the species, many tourists flock to the Andes Mountain Range in an attempt to click a photo of the elusive deer, bringing in revenue for Chile and Argentina. With proper sustainability measures in place for tourism, Chile and Argentina could sustainably profit off of Huemul-centered tourism. But, as of now, unregulated tourism brings incredible amounts damage and harm to the Huemul and its environment (Black-Decima, 2018).
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE.
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CULTURAL IMPORTANCE.
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Featured alongside the Condor on the Chilean Coat Of Arms, the Huemul is an icon of both Chile and Argentina. Because of its status as the national animal of Chile, both governments have taken the initiative to put in place laws and protection acts in an effort to protect the Huemul from extinction (Taylor, 2021). However, none of these efforts have made much impact due to restricted government funding and a lack of environmental focus in the government. In order to maintain this cultural icon, funding must be transferred to the research, rehabilitation, and conservation of this animal.
Huemul reside in the Periglacial scrubland of Chile and Argentina's Andes Mountain Range. This consists of low bluffs, upland forests, steep mountain slopes, glacial ecosystems, and open grasslands
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Huemul are a K-selected species, producing few offspring but providing a lot of love to their kin. Huemul pregnancies last about 7 months, and the babies are born towards November. This low birth rate means few babies are introduced each season to an already dwindling population.