Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – URUGUAY: The Return of the Aguará-Guazú

MONTEVIDEO, Sep 16 2006 (IPS) - The reappearance in Uruguay of an “aguará-guazú”, or maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), the first one sighted here in 16 years, could help finance a study of this canid species.

The animal, which is more closely related to foxes than to wolfes, was killed by hunters in the eastern departnment of Cerro Largo, and taken in mid-September to the Museum of Natural History and Anthropology in Montevideo, where it was being prepared for study.

Museum director Arturo Toscano told Tierramérica that efforts are being made, alongside the Ministry of Agriculture, to obtain financing for research, which would include a search for more maned wolves in Cerro Largo.

“Based on the animal found, we could make a conservation proposal on the national or municipal level,” said Toscano.

In Uruguay, the last aguará-guazú, which can weigh 40 kilograms and inhabits several South American countries, was seen in 1990 in the western department of Río Negro.