Hello, everyone! Welcome back to Rewildology. Your rewilder host here, Brooke Mitchell, and today I’m bringing you an exciting update from Chilean Patagonia. I was hoping to get this “inbetweenersode” out sooner, but I just returned from an 8-day excursion in Alaska. Wow, if you’ve never been, add Alaska to the top of your bucket list. If Patagonia is at the top of your adventure bucket list, we still have spaces available on our April 2026 Patagonia Puma and Trekking expedition. Learn more at the website, or reach out with any questions.
Anyways, when I recorded my series “Where the Wild Calls: A Journey through Patagonia’s Route of Parks” in April and May of 2024, I documented some remarkable conservation stories across Chile’s 1,700-mile wilderness corridor. But conservation work is dynamic, and in just over a year since that journey, there have been some extraordinary developments.
Today I’m joined by Cristian Saucedo, Wildlife Director for Rewilding Chile, who’s been at the forefront of conservation efforts in Patagonia for nearly two decades. What he’s about to share represents some genuinely exciting breakthroughs – from discovering endangered species populations in unexpected places to pioneering international wildlife collaborations.
Whether you followed the original Route of Parks series or you’re joining us for the first time, these updates showcase why Chilean Patagonia continues to be one of the world’s most important conservation frontiers.
Key Discoveries & Updates
🦌 Cape Froward Huemul Discovery
- Dramatic helicopter expedition discovers 10 endangered huemul deer
- Significance for a species with fewer than 1,500 individuals globally
- Future Cape Froward National Park conservation implications
🐦 Darwin’s Rhea Conservation Success
- First international wildlife translocation between Argentina and Chile
- 50 chicks released in 2025 – largest release to date
- GPS collar breakthrough for monitoring wild populations
🦅 Andean Condor Rehabilitation Program
- Four condors released in Patagonia National Park in 2024
- Partnership with rehabilitation centers and government agencies
- Long-term monitoring of these 70-80 year lifespan birds
🐱 Puma Coexistence Research
- Upcoming international workshop on responsible puma tourism
- Innovative deterrent technology development
- Collaboration with ranchers and conservation organizations
🌊 Marine Conservation Discoveries
- Southern river otter (huillín) sightings in coastal areas
- Marine program expansion across the Route of Parks
- Integration of terrestrial and marine conservation efforts
🌲 Pumalín National Park Updates
- Ongoing huemul population research in northern territories
- Darwin’s frog conservation and fungal disease monitoring
- Pudu deer habitat restoration efforts
About Our Guest
Cristian Saucedo is the Wildlife Director for Rewilding Chile and has been at the forefront of Patagonian conservation since 2005. A veterinarian by training, Cristian oversees wildlife programs across multiple national parks in Chile’s Route of Parks, focusing on species restoration, ecosystem recovery, and collaborative conservation efforts.
