The Environmental Crimes Investigation Unit (Ufima) has opened an investigation into the disappearance of two jaguar cubs that occurred nearly four months ago during an operation led by the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones to relocate an adult female identified as Pará. The procedure, which initially aimed to relocate only the mother, was carried out due to growing concern from residents of a neighborhood near Puerto Iguazú, where the animal's presence had caused social tension and fear. "Either the neighbors would kill her, or the conflict would escalate with more attacks," warned the Yaguareté Project, Yaguareté Network, and the Wildlife Foundation. After her release, the mother moved away from the site, while the cubs remained in the vicinity of the relocation area. However, they emphasized that relocating a jaguar is always a last resort due to the high level of stress it causes the animal and the associated risks. On the night of October 16, provincial authorities, along with scientists from the Yaguareté Project-Conicet, the Félix de Azar Foundation, and the National Parks Administration, located Pará in an area known as 'The 2000 Hectares.' 'Relocating a female with such small cubs, against all technical indications, is the result of a serious improvisation,' stated Nicolás Lodeiro, director of the Yaguareté Network, warning that negligence can cost lives. The animals were taken to the Esmeralda Provincial Park, within the Yabotí Biosphere Reserve. According to estimates from the Selva Paranaense Subcommission, Pará may have preyed on more than 50 dogs, and weeks before the operation, she was recorded by cameras inside a home, a fact that went viral on social media. Experts and conservation organizations agreed that the scenario was extreme. During the operation, it was confirmed that the female was accompanied by two cubs no older than two months, which added an unforeseen complexity. Scientific and conservation circles harshly criticized the decision. The Ministry of Ecology has not provided public responses regarding the reasons for choosing the provincial park. According to Ufima, the preliminary investigation is underway, pending technical reports from specialized agencies. In parallel, the Minister of Ecology, Martín Recaman, announced an investment of 40 million pesos for a sustainable urban development plan in the '2000 Hectares' area, financed with funds from the Native Forests Law, while no details were provided about projects or facilities in the Esmeralda Park.
