For this reason, in 1996 it was declared a Natural Monument in Argentina, the highest protection category that can be granted to a species in the country. The huemul inhabits steep slopes, forests, and high-altitude grasslands, environments that are becoming increasingly restricted today. Among the threats it faces are poaching, habitat loss and fragmentation, fences, roadkill, and competition with livestock, often associated with the presence of dogs that can harass or prey on the animals. To this are added introduced species such as the red deer and wild boar, which alter ecosystems and can transmit diseases.
Its population is fragmented, and the species is categorized as Endangered both globally (IUCN) and in both countries.
After crossing on its own from Chile, the huemul "Newenche" was registered in Nahuel Huapi National Park thanks to the radio collar with which it is monitored, with hopes for the recovery of this species in northern Argentine Patagonia. A team made up of staff from the National Parks Administration (APN), Chile's Huilo Huilo Foundation (RBHH), and Rewilding Argentina Foundation managed to capture this huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus) specimen in the northern area of the aforementioned protected area to replace its transmitter collar and thus continue its satellite tracking.
Photo: Agencia Noticias Argentinas / APN
"Newenche" is a juvenile huemul born in the wild in November 2023 at the Huilo Huilo Biological Reserve, located in Chile. In January 2025, it began its natural displacement towards Lanín National Park, where its presence was confirmed in February after 30 years without records, and from there it continued its journey to Nahuel Huapi National Park. After crossing the border, specialists began a joint tracking work using telemetry, field surveys, and camera trap records.
Radio Collar
This young huemul traveled about 80 km in a straight line, moving through hard-to-access areas of the Andes. Tracking the specimen allowed for the knowledge of its route, movement patterns, and the areas used within the biological corridor, providing valuable information for the conservation of the species declared a National Natural Monument. The new collar, expandable and with GPS technology, will allow for real-time satellite tracking of the specimen, complemented by field observations, improving monitoring and the ability to respond to potential risks, such as road crossings or approaches to inhabited areas.
National Natural Monument, Endangered
The huemul is a deer native to the Andean-Patagonian forests, whose current distribution is limited to southern Chile and Argentina.
