After seven decades of absence, the jaguar (Panthera onca) returned to roam the Iberá Wetlands. The reintroduction project, initiated in 2012 with the construction of the Jaguar Reintroduction Center on San Alonso Island, managed to establish a wild population that today reaches 50 free individuals in Corrientes.
This program, a pioneer at the global level, positions the province as a reference in ecological restoration and nature tourism, setting precedents for similar initiatives in other regions of Argentina and the continent.
Life Stories: Porá and Her Cub
One of the most significant moments occurred when researchers observed Porá, a female released in 2021 along with her mother Mariuá and her sister Karaí. In April 2026, Porá was seen carrying her new cub, the fiftieth jaguar recorded in the wild in Iberá.
“She is a very special jaguar who grew up, became independent, and settled in the same area where she was born,” highlighted Sebastián di Martino, director of Conservation at Rewilding Argentina.
A Collective Effort
The success of the program is due to the collaboration between:
- Government of Corrientes.
- National Parks Administration.
- Rewilding Argentina Foundation and Tompkins Conservation.
- Scientists and experts from Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Uruguay.
Thanks to this work, Corrientes went from having no jaguars in the wild to containing almost 10% of the national population, becoming the province with the highest density of these felines in the Chaco region.
Ecological and Touristic Impact
The jaguar plays a key role as a top predator, regulating populations of other species and generating a cascade effect in the food chain. Scientific monitoring, conducted by CONICET, the Jaguar Project and the National Geographic Society, documents the positive effects of its return on the ecosystem.
Additionally, the presence of the feline boosts nature tourism, strengthening local economies and establishing Iberá as one of the most significant destinations in the country.
Challenges in Other Regions
While Corrientes celebrates this success, the outlook in other areas is critical. In the Gran Chaco, the jaguar population is reduced to less than 20 individuals, threatened by deforestation and illegal hunting. In 2020, a project was launched in the El Impenetrable National Park to reinforce the population by releasing females, replicating the Iberá rewilding model.
This approach is observed internationally as an example for regions like the Atlantic Forest of Brazil and the southern United States.
The return of the jaguar to Iberá is more than a conservation achievement: it is a story of resilience and interinstitutional cooperation that places Argentina at the global forefront of ecological restoration. The experience inspires the expansion of rewilding strategies in new regions and demonstrates that biodiversity can become a driver of sustainable development.
