An operation carried out by Provincial Wildlife Guards together with the Rural Brigade of the Provincial Police in businesses in Villa Meliquina (Neuquén) resulted in the seizure of red deer meat. The owners of the restaurant where the meat was found did not have the documentation to prove its legal origin.
This action was part of a routine inspection in this town near San Martín de los Andes, with the aim of combating the commercialization of meat and other products obtained through poaching of red deer and other species.
Background and actions against poaching
It is worth noting that in July of last year, during a similar operation carried out by Provincial Wildlife Guards and the Argentine Federal Police in the same town, 75 antlers, 5 heads of red deer, and the skin of a wildcat were confiscated.
All these items were linked to the illegal trade of wildlife. In that operation, wild boar sausages were also found without the necessary permits for sale.
Monitoring and commitment to wildlife protection
The work of the wildlife guards focuses on ensuring that establishments are registered as collectors or manufacturers of products derived from wildlife, in accordance with Article No. 47 of Regulatory Decree No. 1777/07 of Provincial Law No. 2539 on Wildlife.
The Provincial Directorate of Wildlife, together with the Center for Applied Ecology of Neuquén (CEAN) and the Natural Protected Areas under the provincial Ministry of Tourism, actively work to preserve the ecosystem and ensure its sustainability for future generations.
Is the red deer an invasive exotic species?
In the early 20th century, numerous animal species such as salmon, wild boar, and red deer were introduced in Argentine Patagonia. The red deer was brought from Europe around 1906 to the La Pampa province and released in the mountainous region in 1924. It progressively expanded its habitat in Patagonia, and by 2003 its population was estimated at around one hundred thousand animals.
The red deer is a fairly resilient species, its population has increased year after year. However, it is also an exotic animal and as such competes with livestock and native fauna for food and territory, which is often seen as a problem by local livestock producers in Patagonia.
They typically live up to fifteen or twenty years during which each female is estimated to have ten or more offspring.
Cover photo: Patricio Rodríguez
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