Wildlife authorities rescue exotic animals and birds in Chile and Argentina

Authorities in Chile and Argentina have conducted operations to rescue exotic and wild animals from illegal captivity.

In Chile, the Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) Biobío transferred eight exotic animals to a specialized center in the Araucanía region. These animals, including blue-and-yellow macaws, a leopard gecko, bearded dragons, a green iguana, a blue-tongued skink, and a boa constrictor, were cleared by veterinarians at the Universidad Andrés Bello (UNAB) Clinical Veterinary Hospital after a month and a half of rehabilitation. These specimens were part of a larger group of 25 animals seized in Coronel in August.

In Argentina, the Ministry of Energy and Environment, alongside Rural Police, recovered 135 wild birds during control operations in Las Heras, Maipú, and Guaymallén. The birds were moved to the Ecoparque Mendoza for sanitary checks and health evaluations. Veterinary teams are assessing each individual to determine if they can undergo rehabilitation for eventual release back into their natural habitats.