Patagonia's Monte León transforms from sheep ranch to penguin sanctuary

In the Santa Cruz province of Argentina, the landscape of Patagonia has undergone a significant environmental transformation. The former Estancia Monte León, which once hosted a livestock operation of 40,000 sheep, has transitioned into a natural sanctuary.

Following the cessation of livestock activities in 2001, the land was acquired by conservation organizations and subsequently donated to the Argentine state. This led to the formal establishment of Monte León National Park in 2004. The protected area now covers 62,169 hectares, preserving 30 kilometers of coastline and providing a habitat for more than 40,000 breeding pairs of Magellanic penguins.