Giant otters thrive a year after reintroduction to Argentina's Iberá wetlands

A year ago, the Gran Parque Iberá became the stage for an unprecedented event: the release of the first family of giant otters in Argentina. This milestone returned a key species, extinct in the country for about four decades, to the wetlands of Corrientes.

Today, this charismatic predator is reclaiming its ecological role in one of the world's most ambitious rewilding projects. The giant otter, the largest member of its family globally, capable of reaching 1.8 meters and weighing 33 kilograms, had disappeared from Argentina due to poaching and habitat loss, with its last family groups recorded in 1986. However, thanks to coordinated efforts by the Rewilding Argentina Foundation, the National Parks Administration, the province of Corrientes, and a network of international zoos, the silence of the Iberá's waters has finally been broken.

The protagonists of this homecoming are Coco, a male from Denmark, Nima, a female donated by Spain, and their two cubs born in Corrientes in November 2024. Together, they form the first free-roaming family unit. As the region's primary aquatic predator, their ecological role is vital: their diet, based almost exclusively on fish, regulates populations and ensures the health of aquatic systems.

The return of this mammal not only heals ecosystems but also boosts local economies through wildlife tourism. Iberá is positioning itself as a global example of "nature production." The initiative's success validates a sustainable development model based on environmental restoration and demonstrates the technical viability of recovering extinct species through international cooperation.