The Grey Brocket
The grey brocket deer is a medium-sized cervid native to the Americas, with a wide distribution ranging from southern Mexico to northern Argentina and Uruguay. Unfortunately, its habitat is nowadays somewhat reduced due to hunting pressure and the destruction of the ecosystems it inhabits.
It was declared a Natural Monument in Entre Ríos in 2018, through resolution 679/18 of the Directorate of Mining, Environment and Natural Resources, under the Secretariat of Production, thus adding to the list of species already declared with maximum protection in Entre Ríos.
The Project
In 2007, after the purchase of the field, the professional teams hired (biologists, naturalists, scientists) began the survey tasks to define the natural values of El Potrero, which would lead to the creation of the Natural Reserve.
The absence of the Grey Corzuela in the entire extension of this territory (30,000 hectares) and the lack of records (in patrols or monitoring) for at least 10 years, were indicative of the situation of this species in the region.
This is how the Grey Brocket Repopulation Project was born in the El Potrero Reserve. A commitment to generate the necessary bridges that would allow this deer to return to our mountains after years of absence.
How do we work?
The program is developed in several stages: individuals that arrive recovered from illegal possession or by voluntary surrender undergo their quarantine and adaptation stage in a first refuge pen. Once they have passed this first stage, they move to the pre-harvest pen (13 ha) where they are monitored to evaluate their progress in an environment that maintains the wild conditions of their natural habitat.
Individuals
They come from illegal possession confiscations, ransom or voluntary surrender by neighbors.
Rehabilitation
In a quarantine enclosure, they receive veterinary care and controls, to begin their readaptation to life in the wild.
Reproduction
There are already 7 deers born in the Reserve, from the encounter of some of the specimens that are part of the Project.
Release
Individuals that manage to adapt are released into the pre-release yard and continue to be monitored with camera traps and radio-transmitter collars.
