CONSERVATION EFFORTS
rewildingchile.org
Can one animal really make a difference? These organizations know it can.
In 2001, the 'Plan Nacional de Conservación del Huemul' was launched by the Chilean government. The goal of the Conservation Plan is to study Huemul and fund the conservation and introduction of Huemul to the wild. Chile and Argentina also signed the South Andean Huemul Memorium of Understanding the same year, promising to work together to improve Huemul status. However, funding restrictions have impeded implementation of the recovery plan, with 9% of Huemul partially outside of protected areas and 63% of Huemul populations completely outside of protected areas. Therefore, 72% of Huemul are completely vulnerable to their many threats (Black-Decima, 2016).
In 2015, Parque Patagonia, a 200,000 acre national park, opened and promised many acres of protected area. As of now, Huemul are present in 13 Chilean parks and reserves as well as in 5 Argentinian parks and reserves, yet only 28% of the Huemul population is represented in these protected areas (Black-Decima, 2016).
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In 2005, the Huilo Huilo Foundation began the Huemul del Sur Conservation Center project in alliance with the Plan Nacional de Conservación del Huemul. The project consists of the capture, transfer, maintenance, reproduction reintroduction, and monitoring of the species in their natural habitat. After release, rangers monitor the Huemul through camera traps, radio collars, and direct observation in order to gain more knowledge of their habits, threats, and lifestyle.
Some achievements of the foundation’s conservation center include:
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The Huemul del Sur Conservation Center is the first Huemul reproduction center in Chile.
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The foundation has published two books about Huemul; “El Huemul: Un Futuro Possible,” and “El Huemul.”
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The foundation obtained the Green Seal in 2011, recognizing it as a crucial initiative in Chilean conservation.
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In November of 2016, the world's first Huemul reintroduction was carried out with Huilo Huilo. Huemul returned to inhabit the Los Ríos region after 30 years of its extinction in the area.
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The foundation has celebrated 16 years of Huemul preservation within the semi-captive reserve.
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The foundation carried out the National Awareness Campaign on the Conservation of the Huemul del Sur with the Ministry of Agriculture, as well as with multiple other organizations.
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Today, 5 Huemul have been reintroduced.
The National Huemul Corridor is a public-private initiative seeking to establish the Huemul population using wildlife corridors in crucial conservation areas. The project is being carried out in four national parks where the Huemul species exists. Funding from National Geographic supported the beginning of the project. Since 2018, the organizations Puelo Patagonia and the Tompkins Conservation Rewilding Chile have collaborated with other organizations such as Conaf in efforts to understand Huemul distribution, generating the first scientific data about Huemul in some areas (Fundacion Rewilding Chile, n.d.).
Some achievements through the NHC include:
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In Pumalin Douglas Tompkins National Park, 28 camera traps were installed with the funding of National Geographic.
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In the Futaleufu National Reserve, 10 camera traps were added to Conaf’s already present 15 sighting registrations. Conaf and Rewilding Chile have carried out fieldwork in this park which has led to Huemul sightings and observations. Furthermore, cattle in this area have been removed for Huemul protection.
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In Cerro Castillo National Park, 16 camera traps were added and visits to surrounding communities were carried out with the goal to educate about Huemul.
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In Patagonia National Park, there are 8 Huemul with radio collars as well as 15 camera traps. These current monitoring efforts reach about 30% of the 150 Huemul in the park.
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