During the past month, poaching in the Iberá National Park intensified, with the repeated presence of armed hunters.
The situation coincided with the reduction of park rangers and the closure of public access to the area.
In fact, videos taken in the San Nicolás Portal managed to detect three people on horseback carrying firearms and knives.
The hunters were transporting dead native animals, such as capybaras and armadillos, as a result of illegal activity.
Poaching in Iberá, a direct threat to protected species
Poaching in Iberá represents a concrete danger to species of high conservation value.
Besides the detected victims of capybaras and armadillos, there is an alert about the possibility that poachers could harm protected species found in Iberá, such as:
- jaguars;
- pampas deer;
- giant anteaters, and;
- collared peccaries.
In particular, the area is known to have at least seven jaguars, within a provincial population that exceeds 45 monitored individuals.
Now, the presence of armed individuals and packs of dogs constitutes a direct threat to these protected species.
The San Nicolás Portal functions as a key sector for ecological connectivity and threatened or reintroduced species through restoration programs use the territory.
Therefore, the threat of poachers in this area of Iberá is even more serious.
Closure of access and lack of control
Since December, the access road to the portal remains locked with padlocks to the public, which simplifies poaching in Iberá.
The path crosses a private property with an easement, which should remain open.
However, the owner decided to close the gate, preventing visitors from accessing trails, viewpoints, and the port.
This restriction directly affects nature tourism during the high season and facilitates the illegal entry of hunters.
The restriction is also compounded by the absence of permanent control personnel.
Until recently, a park ranger was stationed at the portal constantly. However, their transfer to the urban area left the sector without stable authorities.
Local authorities demand urgent measures
After confirming the presence of poachers in the protected area, the Secretary of Tourism of San Miguel, Mariano Escobar, described the situation in Iberá as “serious”.
The official also pointed out the total absence of Flora and Fauna inspectors in the area: “We only have one commissioner and little police personnel, which is insufficient,” he warned.
In response, Escobar explained that the Municipality, the provincial Government, and the National Parks Administration are trying to coordinate actions.
However, he warned that the current resources are not enough to control poaching in Iberá.
The official asserts that illegal hunting has intensified in the context of the economic crisis.
“More and more visitors come to Iberá to enjoy the wildlife. This affects numerous families that depend on tourism,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the superintendent of Iberá National Park, Gimena Martínez, noted that poaching “is not a new phenomenon” in Corrientes, but rather a response to entrenched practices in the region.
In this scenario, Martínez assured that National Parks makes the corresponding reports to the Justice.
“Patrols and permanent tours are conducted within the park and constant work is done against illegal hunting,” she stated.
But today, the combination of poaching, access restrictions, and reduced institutional presence weakens the conservation and sustainable tourism model proposed by Iberá.
Authorities and the community demand an urgent and coordinated response to preserve the protected area.
