A group of rare huemul deer – a stocky mammal, with short legs, thick fur and large ears – has been found living in a remote region of Chilean Patagonia.
The discovery was made during a recent Rewilding Chile expedition in the rugged landscape of Cape Froward on the southern tip of South America.
With fewer than 1,500 individuals remaining across Chile and Argentina, this new subpopulation is a vital lifeline for the species.
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The team identified ten huemul deer (Hippocamelus bisulcus) during a helicopter survey of a vast mountain area within what is set to become Cape Froward National Park.
"Finding viable populations in new areas strengthens the case for large-scale conservation corridors and gives the species a better chance to survive," says Cristián Saucedo, wildlife director at Rewilding Chile and leader of the expedition.
Once widespread across Patagonia, the huemul – also known as the South Andean deer – has suffered dramatic declines due to centuries of hunting, habitat loss and isolation.
This newly discovered group seems to be faring well, likely thanks to the area's pristine, roadless terrain, which has provided a natural refuge. “But isolation alone is not enough," says Saucedo. "We now have a unique opportunity to turn this area into a formally protected national park that ensures its long-term preservation.”
In 2024, the Chilean government signed an agreement to create a 300,000-acre national park in Cape Froward, a region that includes peatlands, temperate forests and rich marine habitats. The designation was supported by a land donation of 231,000 acres from Rewilding Chile and Tompkins Conservation.
Top image: Cape Forward, Chile. Credit: Rewilding Chile
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