Iberá Wetlands Jaguar Reintroduction, Argentina

Iberá Wetlands Jaguar Reintroduction achieved the first jaguar reintroduction in the Americas with the release of 4 captive-bred individuals in 2021, marking a milestone for apex predator restoration. Camera-trap data from 2023 shows that 3 of the released jaguars have established territories covering 15,000 hectares each, with prey density of capybaras and caimans increasing by 20% since the project began. This ecological win is tempered by heated debates with cattle ranchers, as jaguars have killed 8 calves annually—a rate that is 30% lower than the runner-up (Yellowstone Wolf Reintroduction) but still fuels local opposition. The project demonstrates that reintroduction of large carnivores can succeed without exceeding manageable livestock losses.