Chile | Chilean scientists track flamingos by satellite to preserve dwindling population

Chilean scientists track flamingos by satellite to preserve dwindling population

2024-07-09

The population of flamingos in Chile's Los Flamencos national reserve is declining, prompting scientists to investigate their whereabouts. Guillermo Cubillos, head of Chile's National Zoo's conservation unit, noted a significant drop in flamingo numbers—from 100-150 last year to just 15-20 this year in the reserve's northern region. He attributed this decline to threats like climate change and mining, particularly lithium extraction, which can disrupt their sensitive habitat with noise and environmental changes.

To track the flamingos and understand their movements, scientists are capturing them and fitting them with satellite transmitters. This effort aims to monitor their feeding, breeding, and habitat use, crucial for proposing conservation areas and strategies for the reserve's three flamingo species. Cubillos emphasized the delicate nature of the high-altitude lagoons and wetlands where these birds reside, underscoring the need for science-backed decisions on land use, given the area's significance for both mining and biodiversity.

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