On July 8, around 9 a.m., a call from a neighbor reported the presence of a “large dog” on a vacant lot in the city of Gualeguay, Entre Ríos. Personnel from the Gualeguay Brigade, part of the General Directorate for the Prevention of Rural Crimes (D.G.P.D.R.), responded to the scene and discovered that it was not a dog, but a maned wolf, one of the most iconic and endangered species of our native fauna.
After the police veterinarian administered anesthesia to ensure a safe capture, the animal was transported to the El Potrero Reserve, where it was received by veterinarian Myriam Vinocur and our team.
The maned wolf was initially placed in the same acclimatization enclosure that Chamarrita had occupied some time ago during her recovery. As it began to recover from the effects of the anesthesia and the stress of the rescue, it was able to access the pre-release enclosure: approximately 3 hectares of fenced-in natural habitat where it will remain under observation and monitoring until it can be returned to the wild.
Throughout this process, we will conduct constant monitoring using camera traps and drones equipped with conventional and thermal cameras, always striving to minimize human contact. In addition, he will receive supplemental food, although the enclosure also contains natural prey native to the environment.
When the time is right, the animal will be released with a satellite tracking collar. The information gathered will help us continue to expand our knowledge of the species and strengthen conservation strategies in Entre Ríos.
We would like to highlight and express our gratitude for the swift action and coordinated efforts between the General Directorate for the Prevention of Rural Crimes (D.G.P.D.R.), the Directorate of Inspection and Natural Resources of the Province of Entre Ríos, and the Directorate of Protected Natural Areas, which made it possible for this rescue to proceed efficiently and effectively.
A new chapter begins. And, once again, we have the enormous responsibility of accompanying a maned wolf on its journey back home.
