Charisma as a key atttribute for the expansion and protection of squirrels introduced in Argentina

GUICHÓN ML; BORGNIA M; BENITEZ V; GOZZI AC

Invasive introduced mammals in Argentina

SAREM Series A

Lugar: Mendoza; Año: 2023; p. 53 - 73

The commercialization of species valued as pets or used to enrich local fauna are a constantsource of introductions that may establish wild populations due to accidental escapes or deliberate releases. The most frequent pathway of squirrel introductions is the pet trade. Squirrels are successful invaders given that together with their biological attributes and tolerance to human presence, their charisma enhances their invasive potential favoring their introduction into new areas and their protection by social groups that oppose management actions. Only one squirrel species has been introduced to South America: the Asiatic Pallas´s squirrel (Callosciurus erythraeus ). This tree squirrel was introduced to Argentina in 1970, and its further expansion resulted from a combination of intentional translocations within the country and natural dispersal of individuals. The first known translocation into a new area within the country occurred two decades after the original importation of squirrels. Thirty-one translocation events, occasionally involving illegal trade, have been recorded between 1995 and 2018, giving rise to 22 invasion foci in rural and urban areas in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Mendoza and Santa Fe, and the city of Buenos Aires. Every year, new reports indicate the presence of C. erythraeus in new sites, showing that this biological invasion is anongoing problem with a strong social component that should receive an interdisciplinary approachto also attend to public concerns. To prevent further expansion, authorities must tackle the issues ofsquirrel translocation and of implementing a warning-rapid response protocol in recently invadedareas. NGOs, veterinarians and pet shop owners play an important role in reinforcing responsiblepet-keeping practices, including the message that wildlife species are not pets. Any management planshould be designed considering the local characteristics of the invasion process of this squirrel species,integrating the social dimension together with biological, technical, economic and political aspects.p { margin-bottom: 0.08in; direction: ltr; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); line-height: 115%; }p.western { font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; }p.cjk { font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; }p.ctl { font-family: "Calibri", sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; }a:link { color: rgb(0, 0, 255); }