Animals rescued as fires rage in north Argentina

As fires consumed more than 50,000 hectares of Iberá National Park in northeastern Argentina, rangers managed to rescue four macaws and two anteaters to be reintroduced to the wetlands. The baby macaws needed antibiotics because their lungs were compromised with smoke from the fire.

Over half-a-million hectares have burnt in Corrientes province, including grasslands, wetlands and native forest. The fire was fueled by a prolonged drought, high temperatures and the lack of fire management in areas bordering the National Park with pine forest plantations. The Iberá wetlands are among the largest wetland systems in the world and support a remarkable level of biodiversity.

Over 200 kilometers of fences lost to the fire, cattle and water buffalos from neighboring ranches that also caught fire are moving deep into the National Park, creating a huge environmental problem. The other problem is some wildlife that escaped the fire outside the park boundaries may become prey of hunters.

Sofia Heinonen, biologist and executive director Rewilding Argentina said they are looking at future alternatives to fences made with discarded metal tubbing from the oil industry that could resist future fires.