Scientists know that losing large predators can have far-reaching, disruptive effects on ecosystems through cascading forces that reverberate from predators at high trophic levels-the top of the food web-to their prey and beyond, even sculpting the abundance and structure of plant life. To Emiliano Donadio, the foundation’s scientific director, the release not only is crucial to rebuilding Iberá’s ancient ecosystem, but is a scientific experiment that will provide a rare glimpse of how the return of one of the world’s largest carnivores could transform an ecosystem. By the end of this year, conservationists hope to install one of the final missing ecological pieces-an apex predator-with the release of the jaguars. Because of the region’s now-protected status and the reintroduction of locally extirpated species to reconstruct ecological communities, the area is thriving with pampas deer and marsh deer, capybaras, caimans, and diverse bird and insect life. Now, wildlife is making a comeback in Iberá, thanks to an ecological restoration effort spearheaded by the nonprofit Rewilding Argentina Foundation. People killed off native predators to protect livestock, and many species were decimated to satisfy a burgeoning market for fur, leather, and feathers. Once a pristine habitat, the region has lost much of its wildlife since the early 20th century, when ranchers moved into the area. Three adults and the two-year-olds Amarí and Mbareté currently live in an enclosure on San Alonso, a patch of high ground in Iberá’s patchwork of flooded wilderness, lagoons, jungle, and grasslands. The year 2022 saw over 102,919 turtle eggs collected and preserved in AMBAS hatcheries, exceeding the initial goal of 86,000 eggs.The jaguars don’t know it yet, but soon they’ll be free to roam Argentina’s Iberá wetlands, becoming the first apex predators to do so in a century. AMBAS has also funded various environmental projects over the past 20 years.Īccording to recent statements, there are close to a million turtle eggs in incubation since the project started. This project, started by QUELONIA, is executed by the Barra de Santiago Women’s Community Development Association (AMBAS). In October 2022, residents of Garita Palmera, along with members of the Roundtable for the Sustainability of Water and the Environment of Ahuachapán (MESAMA), and the Salvadoran Ecological Unit (UNES), assisted in the release of dozens of turtles. This controlled environment allows for minimal risk and danger for the baby sea turtles. As part of their conservation initiative, they conceived hatcheries, and plan for periodic releases from June through February. In Garita Palmera, Ahuachapán, social and environmental organizations such as QUELONIA do their best to preserve the turtles’ ecosystems. This shift in numbers could lead to a decline in population. In addition, due to global warming and the rising temperatures of the sand, scientists fear more female turtles will be born than male turtles. Most of the turtles never make it to the ocean. When a sea turtle egg hatches, the newborns face many predators including crabs, birds, raccoons, dogs, and fish. Read more stories from El Salvador at Orato World Media AHUACHAPÁN, El Salvador - After collecting over 100,000 sea turtle eggs in 2022 on the beaches of Garita Palmera, El Salvador, members of the Turtle Preservation Program released dozens of baby turtles into the ocean at night.
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