Home / Environment / Argentina's Vanished Jaguar Reappears in Historic Return
Argentina's Vanished Jaguar Reappears in Historic Return
21 Jan
Summary
- El Impenetrable Park faces massive deforestation, losing 300 hectares daily.
- The jaguar, extinct for over 30 years, has returned to its native forest.
- A reintroduction operation is underway, with a new wild cub born.
El Impenetrable National Park in northern Argentina, a crucial part of South America's second-largest green lung, is battling relentless human impact. The Argentine Chaco ecosystem is one of the nation's most devastated, with over 80% of its deforestation occurring here, equating to a loss of 300 hectares of native forest each day.
This vast park, spanning over 130,000 hectares, encompasses diverse landscapes and was once the silent domain of the jaguar. Poaching had driven this magnificent species to the brink, with no sightings reported for more than 30 years, until 2019 when fresh tracks and camera trap evidence confirmed their impossible return.
Named Qaramtá, meaning "he who cannot be destroyed" in the Qom language, the jaguar's reappearance ignited a significant wildlife reintroduction effort. This event culminated in the birth of the first wild jaguar cub in over 35 years, symbolizing a powerful fight against extinction.
El Impenetrable now stands as a vital refuge, a testament to dedicated conservation. Its survival, particularly that of the jaguar, underscores a collective decision that this unique ecosystem and its inhabitants are worth fighting for.
