The Rewilding Argentina Foundation confirmed the death of Charrúa, one of the three red macaws born in the wild in 2023 in the Iberá Park, Corrientes. The bird died after being hit with a slingshot near Concepción del Yaguareté Corá, despite veterinary efforts to save it.
The incident caused deep shock among the region’s inhabitants and the conservation team, as Charrúa was part of the first group of macaws to fly over the Argentine coast after more than 150 years of absence. Its loss symbolizes a severe blow to one of the country’s most emblematic ecological projects.
Since 2015, the Rewilding Argentina Foundation, along with the province of Corrientes and the National Parks Administration, has been working on the reintroduction of the Ara chloropterus, which disappeared from the national territory since the 19th century. The appearance of Charrúa and its siblings Pampa and Toba marked a milestone for conservation and local biodiversity in 2023.
For months, the three juvenile macaws soared through the skies of Iberá, covering more than 350 kilometers. Their presence sparked enthusiasm in communities like Isla Apipé, Loreto, and Carlos Pellegrini, where residents actively engaged in their monitoring.
A symbol of ecological restoration and shared responsibility
On September 29, hope was shattered when Charrúa was found injured with a severe fracture in the right wing. After being rescued by a family from Concepción del Yaguareté Corá, it was taken to the Aguará Conservation Center, where it did not survive.
The loss is particularly significant because the red macaw was declared a Provincial Natural Monument in 2021, a category that provides it with maximum legal protection. The Foundation filed a judicial complaint to investigate the incident, which constitutes the first intentional death by human action in a decade of reintroduction work.
Beyond the pain, the event reinforces the need to strengthen coexistence between rural communities and reintroduced species. The Iberá project is sustained thanks to local commitment: neighbors who report sightings, record movements, and alert about risks, consolidating an essential community network for the program’s success.
The red macaw and its vital role in the Argentine ecosystem
The Ara chloropterus plays a key ecological role as a seed disperser, contributing to the regeneration of the native forests of northeastern Argentina. Its presence favors the balance of ecosystems and also boosts ecotourism, a source of sustainable development for communities near Iberá.
Extinct in the country since the 19th century due to hunting and habitat loss, the return of the red macaw represents one of the most significant recent conservation achievements. Each released individual symbolizes a step towards restoring the natural balance that once characterized the Argentine coast.
Therefore, Charrúa’s death not only saddens but also warns about the fragility of these advances. Environmental organizations insist that protecting macaws is not just an act of conservation but a shared responsibility to ensure that the skies of Iberá continue to regain the colors they lost more than a century ago.
