The release of rescued wildlife marked a milestone in Santa Fe during 2025.
This year, the province maintained and deepened an important plan that allowed the rehabilitation and release of more than 520 specimens.
Of the 520 specimens released in 2025, the majority were birds (more than 400), followed by mammals (about 100) and reptiles to a lesser extent.
This animal release was carried out in various protected areas of the province.
The rescue and rehabilitation before the release of the animals
To this strategy, a new action was recently added at the end of the year: a team from the La Esmeralda Rescue Center conducted a new reintegration day in the Cayastá reserve.
There, they returned to their natural habitat a capybara, two wildcats, 13 opossums and the caiman “Ricardito”.
The center, under the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, houses between 1500 and 2000 animals of various species.
Many are at risk of extinction or are considered natural monuments, such as the yellow cardinal, the crowned eagle, pumas, and specimens of the maned wolf.
The animals arrived at the center due to various situations: illegal trafficking, pet keeping, improper possession, road accidents, or diseases.
Access was gained through complaints, seizures, or voluntary handovers by individuals.
Upon entry, each specimen went through a quarantine area and recovery. Veterinarians and specialists analyzed whether reintegration into natural environments was possible based on their physical condition and behavior.
The day at the La Elena Reserve
The team traveled to La Elena, in Cayastá, Garay department. This private estate of 3,800 hectares is part of the Multiple Use Reserves (RUM) that make up the provincial system of protected natural areas.
The area combines the ecoregions of the espinal, humid pampas, and wetlands, making it a key space for the release of wildlife.
Mauro Pergazzere, veterinarian and director of the Central Delegation of the Ministry of Environment, led the expedition along with Hernán Ciocan, Ph.D. in Biological Sciences and head of Habitat.
The black wildcats of six months were the first to regain their freedom. Rescued from a field in San Justo due to illegal possession, the felines ventured into the pasture and a reed bed under the shade of a carob tree.
The 13 opossums, three to four-month-old cubs found alone or orphaned, were placed in ceibos near the road.
Some showed initial resistance but eventually climbed the branches or escaped into the vegetation.
The adult capybara arrived at the center in 2024 following a police report. It was attacked by dogs in the city with multiple bites on an eye, the back, and the sides.
After months of recovery, it swam determinedly towards a lagoon surrounded by water hyacinths and disappeared into a small forest island.
The caiman Ricardito, who spent years at the Malbrán Institute, completed the animal release day in another area of the reserve.
Conservation and ecosystem balance
“Each species fulfills an essential function within the ecosystem. The presence of these animals and the interactions they generate among them contribute to the natural balance, allowing ecosystems to remain healthy and function properly,” said Pergazzere.
The action represents the last link in a conservation strategy that also seeks to open the center to the community.
The goal is to multiply the awareness of caring for the environment as a fundamental need to develop a sustainable life in the coming years.
Species released during the day:
- 1 capybara (adult female)
- 2 black wildcats
- 13 overa opossums
- 1 caiman
The release of wildlife continues as part of the provincial commitment to the conservation of native biodiversity and the protection of threatened ecosystems.
