La Fundación Rewilding Argentina commemorated the 19th anniversary of the giant anteater reintroduction program in the Iberá Wetlands. The species, locally known as yurumí, had disappeared from Corrientes in the mid-20th century due to poaching, fires, and habitat degradation.
Initiated in 2007 alongside the provincial government and Tompkins Conservation, the project became the world’s first giant anteater reintroduction program, successfully rescuing over 110 orphaned individuals or those from civilian alerts and releasing them in Iberá Park.
Operational Axes of the Program
Rescue Protocols: adaptive rehabilitation and release of individuals from northern provinces such as Chaco and Formosa.
Wild Births: several generations have grown in freedom, consolidating autonomous populations.
Current Distribution: the anteaters have regained their ecological role in much of the Wetlands and are expanding their presence in Corrientes.
Ecological and Social Impact
The project demonstrated that rewilding is viable in Argentina when there is coordination among scientists, institutions, and local communities. Its results include:
- Conservation Beacon: it paved the technical way for other native species reintroduction programs.
- Integral Recovery: the applied methodology serves as a basis for returning key predators and herbivores in different ecosystems.
- Nature Tourism: the presence of more than 200 free anteaters boosts the local economy, generating employment in guiding, hospitality, and services.
The Rescue and Release Process
Specialists apply a three-step plan:
- Rescue and Rearing: orphaned babies are bottle-fed and learn to climb.
- Training: in Iberá pens, they develop skills to search for ants and termites.
- Release: at a year and a half, they are fitted with a satellite collar and released in reserves like San Alonso.
Cultural and Environmental Significance
The yurumí, a peaceful animal that uses its long claws to open anthills, poses no threat to humans. Its return symbolizes the restoration of a more balanced and diverse coastal ecosystem. Additionally, it strengthens Corrientes’ environmental identity as a pioneering province in conservation projects.
Nineteen years after its inception, the giant anteater reintroduction program in Iberá is a success story in ecological restoration.
With more than 200 individuals living freely, the project not only recovered an extinct species in the province but also generated social, economic, and cultural benefits, establishing Corrientes as a leader in conservation and sustainable tourism.
