A milestone for the conservation of native fauna is about to be achieved in Santa Cruz. They will release Macá Tobiano chicks, which were raised in captivity, into their natural habitat.
This is an endemic species of the province, which inhabits high mountain lagoons, and is in danger of extinction.
Its population has decreased significantly in recent years, which is why different conservation strategies have been implemented.
Santa Cruz will release Macá Tobiano chicks: how will the milestone be
The Patagonia Program developed a protocol for the incubation and breeding of Macá Tobiano, with the aim of increasing the population and ensuring its survival.
According to reports, this protocol includes the collection of eggs in the lagoons where they nest, their incubation under controlled conditions, and the subsequent raising of the chicks.
This is done in a simulated environment until they are ready to be released into their habitat. There they can learn to survive and reproduce on their own.
The release takes place in strategically selected lagoons, where favorable conditions for their survival have been identified.
“A crucial step for conservation”
These birds are in danger of extinction. In this sense, the Patagonia Program considers the release of juveniles as “a crucial step in the conservation of this species”.
It is expected that this initiative will contribute to the recovery of the population in the future.
The Macá Tobiano chicks will be released in the Santa Cruz River Estuary. This process, including preservation and captive breeding, will take place for the first time in the country with a threatened species.
The release site arises from collective work between institutions, and it is related to saving them from their first risky migration.
“In the last five years, the natural reproduction of the Macá Tobiano has been practically nonexistent, despite the constant effort of colony guardians – technicians from the Macá Tobiano Project,” they considered in the Patagonia Project.
“That is why 10 years ago it began to be considered that ex situ breeding could be a good hope to avoid its extinction. Today it is clearer than ever: it is the best and perhaps the only strategy to save it,” they added from the project.
In addition, the juveniles “will be marked with numbered red rings, which will allow tracking when they return to the plateaus.”
