Foto: Rigoberto Jofré para Rewilding Chile
Following in the footsteps of the huemul with the residents of Villa Cerro Castillo
Following in the footsteps of the huemul with the residents of Villa Cerro Castillo
At 10:30 a.m. and with several degrees below zero, about twenty neighbors registered for the guided community outing to learn about the life of the huemul in the field began to gather outside the Aluen radio station in Villa Cerro Castillo. A species in danger of extinction and of which only 1500 specimens remain, 1% of its original population.
We had the help and participation of Conaf park ranger Tomas Ormeño, in addition to the ranger of Rewilding Chile Foundation, Rody Alvarez, who led this visit to the sector of Las Horquetas, where the first Huemul Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will be built in Aysen. After going a couple of meters into the snow, nature gave a beautiful spectacle to those who, despite the low temperatures, went out to look for the most aústral deer in the world: two families of huemules strolled carefree at a short distance.
“I think it is essential that people, children, youth, and adults, can get closer and learn more about the species and the things that happen in nature”
For Leyla Sánchez, a resident of Puerto Ingeniero Ibáñez, this exploratory visit to learn about the huemul “was to go much deeper, and to learn with people who are experienced in the subject, about the life of the huemul, the care that must be taken in terms of protection, the way of life, reproduction, feeding.”
Joselyn Haro, president of the Villa Cerro Castillo Neighborhood Council, has the same impressions, saying that “I enjoyed it very much because I came with my children. It was an experience I had never had before. We were able to ask questions and resolve all my doubts about the huemules”.
“I think it is essential that people, children, youth, and adults, can get closer and learn more about the species and the things that happen in nature,” says Rody after the activity.
The objective of the Friends of Cerro Castillo National Park program is to strengthen the link between the local community and the national park, helping to raise awareness of the importance of conserving these ecosystems by developing activities such as this one, which was part of the Environmental Education line, where the Rewilding Chile Foundation promotes learning about nature, conservation and the promotion of outdoor life.
Carola Cerda, Director of Community Outreach at Fundación Rewilding Chile, emphasized that these activities “are part of the work that the foundation carries out in conjunction with Conaf, through the Wildlife program, where with this community outing we were able to learn about the behavior of the huemul.”
Finally, we remind the entire community to learn about the activities by checking the IG account @Amigos_PN_CerroCastillo.