Darwin´s rhea breeding center at Patagonia National Park, Chile

The Darwin's rhea breeding center was launched in 2015 to avoid the local extinction of this iconic species, when the birds’ population was fewer than 20 individuals. It's the only center dedicated to recovering the species in South America. In four years, the population of Darwin's rhea in Patagonia National Park has tripled, going from 20 to 60 birds.

The Darwin’s Rhea or Ñandú is a large flightless bird that inhabits the steppes of Patagonia in Chile and Argentina and considered endangered in Aysén region, as a result of habitat fragmentation, hunting, eggs collection in the nest for consumption, and attacks by domestic dogs.

The Darwin's rhea breeding center is part of a long-term rewilding effort of over fifteen years led by Tompkins Conservation Chile that seeks to restore complete and healthy ecosystems by strengthening vulnerable populations of native fauna at Patagonia National Park, Chile.

For more information: http://www.tompkinsconservationchile.org

Видео Darwin´s rhea breeding center at Patagonia National Park, Chile канала Tompkins Conservation