Re-introduction of the giant anteater in Iberá Nature Reserve, Corrientes, Argentina

Summary

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), Vulnerable and extinct in Argentina's Corrientes province since the mid-20th century from hunting and cattle-ranching fires, became the subject of the world's first giant anteater reintroduction, launched in 2006 by the Conservation Land Trust (CLT) and Corrientes province within the Iberá Nature Reserve. A participatory workshop of ecology, veterinary, genetic and social experts produced a government-approved recovery plan targeting CLT's own Rincón del Socorro and San Alonso reserves, but a lack of precedent for interprovincial wildlife movement meant permits for translocating wild adult anteaters proved nearly impossible, forcing a pivot toward hand-rearing orphaned cubs found in family homes across the Chaco region. By June 2015, the project had handled 72 individuals, mostly 52 wild-born orphan cubs alongside captive and injured adults, hand-rearing cubs to about 20 kg before release and screening all for nine infectious diseases; 31 were released at Rincón del Socorro from 2007 and 16 at San Alonso from 2013, with releases continuing. VHF radio-harnesses caused recurring injuries requiring frequent recaptures, but no deaths across more than 100 recapture events; by 2015, of 47 released animals 12 had died, 10 females had produced 28 cubs, annual survival at Socorro reached 92% (100% at San Alonso), and about 53% of females over three years old bred annually. The project rates itself successful, crediting long-term institutional commitment, deliberate stakeholder engagement, a cohesive multi-year team, the anteater's resilience even when raised outside natural conditions, and an adaptive, transparently communicated approach that built public trust despite initial skepticism about a foreign-funded conservation NGO.