Into the Wild: Release of Decades Long “Extinct” Species

After being extinct in the region for approximately 40 years, giant river otters —Argentina’s top aquatic predator — have been reintroduced into the wild.

“The giant river otter’s return marks a huge win for the communities of Northeast Argentina, all the park visitors, and the natural world,” says Kris Tompkins, the president of Tompkins Conservation.

Due to hunting and habitat loss, the giant river otter, pteronura brasiliensis, was declared locally extinct in Argentina by the late 1980s. The giant river otter is also classified as a globally endangered species. The reintroduction project proved to be an extensive task that conservationists had to plan meticulously. After years of preparation, one otter family was finally released, marking the first time this species has been reintroduced in an area where it had been rendered extinct. Now, conservationists are preparing for the release of other giant river otter families soon in Argentina’s protected Iberà wetlands.