The government of Jujuy relocated 42 vicuñas from a breeding center in the locality of Rodero after confirming they were suffering from malnutrition and lack of basic care. The procedure was carried out with the intervention of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPA), which charged the owner of the establishment with the crime of animal abuse.
The animals were taken to the INTA Miraflores premises in Abra Pampa, where technicians began a veterinary monitoring process to recover the affected specimens.
Judicial and Environmental Framework
The MPA based the accusation on the deplorable conditions detected during the raid. Simultaneously, the Provincial Ministry of Environment and Climate Change explained that the measure is part of a policy of progressive closure of old breeding centers, prioritizing the sustainable management of vicuñas in the wild through capture, shearing, and release techniques.
This approach seeks to avoid prolonged captivity, ensure the welfare of the fauna and maintain the balance of the Puna ecosystems.
Current Legislation
The Provincial Law No. 5634 (2015) regulates the sustainable use of vicuña fiber, allowing shearing in the wild under low-stress animal protocols.
The control of this activity is managed by the government’s environmental area, in coordination with Puna communities, ensuring that the fiber is legally exported and generates income without harming the animals.
Ecological, Cultural, and Economic Importance
- Ecological Role: the vicuña is the largest wild herbivore in the Andean region. By feeding on short grasses, it contributes to soil dynamics and the health of the native grassland.
- Cultural Legacy: linked to the worldview of indigenous peoples for over 11,000 years. Traditions like chaku (capture and temporary shearing in the wild) reinforce community ties and sacred respect for fauna.
- Economic Support: its wool is the finest and most valued in the world. Regulated use allows local communities to improve income without compromising the species’ survival.
Conservation and Welfare
Current policies discourage captivity and promote the conservation of healthy wild specimens. Additionally:
- Stopping Poaching: legal protection prevents illegal killing for skin and fiber, a severely punished crime.
- Community and Scientific Synergy: organizations like CONICET and INTA train local residents in low-stress animal protocols during herding and shearing.
Complaints and Citizen Participation
The National Subsecretariat of Environment reminds that in cases of animal abuse, a criminal complaint should be filed. The process is free and can be done at:
- The nearest police station.
- The corresponding prosecutor’s office or UFI.
- An examining court.
The rescue of the 42 vicuñas in Jujuy highlights the need to strengthen animal welfare and conservation policies.
The species, key to the ecological balance of the Puna and the cultural and economic support of the communities, must be protected through sustainable schemes that prioritize their life in the wild and avoid captivity practices that lead to abuse.
