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One of the greatest treasures of the island of Riesco are its huemules. So far, only a few scientific references have been cited, although since 2003 it has not been known whether they were still in this area, the least populated, located about 80 km from Punta Arenas, in the region of Magallanes.
But thanks to an on-site investigation and a documentary made with regional funds by the NGO Asociacion Kauyeken, its presence and state of conservation have been confirmed this month. "In just eight days we managed to observe five individuals, which is a significant number if we consider that more than two thousand people do not live in Chile," said Diego Pearanda, biologist at the Laboratory of Conservation of the University of Chile. In collaboration with researchers from Buin Zoo and members of Kauyeken, they conducted preliminary surveillance in an 8-kilometer environment located in the area that belonged to Douglas Tompkins and which had been given to the state to be part of from the new Alacalufes National Park, which includes the island
The expedition arrived in Riesco on Wednesday 3 and the first individuals found it on Saturday 6, especially on the coast and mountain slopes. "The first ones we observed – a female and a crater because they had already seen us, but the next one we photographed and filmed, was lying at the top of a slope and sometimes, it s & # 39; We stopped and watched as we walked about 40 meters away. "
The next day, in a more remote area, they saw another male with another female.
In this same area, they also observed signs of friction that these animals make on the trees when they change chamois Decorate your woods. "The one who saw the whole thing had, suggesting that there must be another male there." , who participated in the expedition as a representative of Kauyeken. "Having observed these animals so close to the most populated areas might imply that in the high valleys, there could be many more huemules."
Apparently, they have no health problems or have reached the cyst that affects more populations. North. "The appearance, size, coat and structure of the body suggest that they are healthy and that they are well nourished," Pearanda says.
However, the population remains fragile. "As they are on an island, it's a closed population with little genetic flow, in fact, they can be genetically different from those on the mainland," he says.
Although these populations are far enough away from the controversial Mine, To exploit the coal in an open pit, the specialists fear that the future realization of projects of other similar mines closer to the protected area threatens the huemuls , whose dispersal capacity on the island is unknown.
"Huemul's research project focuses on the enhancement of territory and biodiversity and is not opposed to any kind of development," says Gabriela Simonetti, executive director of Kauyeken.
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