Introducing the "Pantano Project" to conserve the southernmost population of the marsh deer

PEREIRA J.A.; FERGNANI D.; FERNÁNDEZ V.; FRACASSI N.G.; GONZÁLEZ V.; LARTIGAU B.; MARIN V.; TELLARINI J.; VARELA D.; WOLFENSON L.

Deer specialist group news

IUCN

Año: 2018 p. 15 - 20

2312-4644

The marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the largest native cervid of South America and is categorized as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The southernmost population of this deer is found in the lower Delta of the Paraná River in Argentina. Due to poaching, habitat loss, and predation by dogs, it has been proposed to upgrade the conservation status of this population to Endangered. In 2015, we implemented the "Pantano Project", an initiative aimed at studying and conserving the marsh deer population of this wetland based on research, environmental education, and public awareness. These actions are intended to reconcile marsh deer conservation with the regional forestry management and improve the conservation status of one of the most important wetlands globally.