The decision regarding the capybaras in Nordelta implies that there will be no restrictions on works that alter the wetlands and wildlife, nor will the use of chemical castration be prohibited.
Judge María Paula Venere revoked the precautionary measures that provided support to the wetlands and wildlife, including capybaras, within the Nordelta area.
This previous judicial measure also explicitly prohibited the application of chemical castration, the use of contraceptive injections, or other methods aimed at population control.
This ordinance regarding capybaras in Nordelta, originally issued by Judge Guillermo Ottaviano, imposed the immediate halt of any work or activity that would be detrimental to the mentioned natural spaces.
Similarly, it did not allow fumigations that could have a negative impact on the Paraná River Delta.
Venere, who is part of the First Instance Court in Administrative Litigation No. 1 of San Isidro, proceeded to unify the existing case against Nordelta S.A. with the lawsuit filed by residents of the same neighborhood.
The judge argued in her ruling that there is a “overpopulation of capybaras“, described their growth as exponential, and stated that they “invade their gardens“.
These residents request the relocation of the animals, the application of vasectomies, and that their status as protected wildlife be removed. Additionally, they ask that hunting be allowed, arguing that the capybaras constitute “exotic” wildlife and a “non-native pest”.
On the other hand, lawyer María de las Victorias Silvano González, who announced that she will appeal this decision, acts as the representative of the “Callejero Casa Quiere Civil Association“. The attorney told the local media Qué Pasa that “animals deserve to be defended“.
The “overpopulation” argument as the basis of the ruling
Judge Venere decided to unify the case filed against Nordelta S.A. with another lawsuit filed by the same residents of the residential complex. Her ruling was based on the argument that there is an overpopulation of capybaras in Nordelta, which, according to the magistrate, is experiencing exponential growth and, as a direct consequence, causes the animals to “invade their gardens”.
This judicial ruling has the practical effect of reopening the possibility for works that could alter the wetlands and affect the wildlife. Additionally, it opens the door to the potential application of various population control methods on the animals.
The reaction of the residents and the appeal by environmentalists for the capybaras in Nordelta
The residents who originally sued the developer company Nordelta S.A. are those seeking to implement stricter measures against the local wildlife. Their main requests include several points:
- The relocation or transfer of the capybaras to other areas.
- The use of vasectomies as a method to control their reproduction.
- That the capybaras lose their current protected status.
- That their hunting be authorized, based on the consideration that they are “exotic” wildlife and constitute a “non-native pest”.
In response to this decision, it has been confirmed that the revocation of the precautionary measure will be appealed. Lawyer María de las Victorias Silvano González, who represents the “Callejero Casa Quiere Civil Association“, assured the local media Qué Pasa that “animals deserve to be defended”. This statement marks the beginning of a new stage in the legal and environmental dispute centered in Nordelta.
