First it was the
capybaras
in Nordelta, this year it is the
foxes
in some countries of Ezeiza and Canning.
The calls from concerned neighbors are repeated, but are the animals the ones that "invade" the neighborhoods or is it the city that is expanding towards the habitat of these species?
Is a coexistence possible?
The foxes that "appeared" in some countries, such as Los Rosales, El Venado and Terralagos, in the south of the GBA, are part of the fauna of the area, species typical of the province.
"They live there and
do not imply any risk
, as long as people adopt the appropriate behaviors," Cristian Gillet, head of the Temaikén Foundation's wildlife rescue and rehabilitation area,
told
Clarín .
"What happens is that people leave the city more and more, the real estate border is extended, humans move to live in peri-urban areas in search of contact with nature," said Gillet.
Then, the coexistence between humans and other animals becomes inevitable because the former advance on the habitat of the latter.
The image taken by a neighbor of the Los Rosales country estate, in Canning, shows a fox meters from the house.
The sighting,
not only of foxes, but also of oberos lizards, capybaras, marsh deer
, among others, is frequent.
They "do not imply any security problem for people," added the specialist.
"The challenge and great message is to coexist, that the people who come to live in these areas understand that getting away from the city has to do with enjoying living in harmony with nature," he explained.
The specialist told
Clarín
that the proper behavior of people with wildlife could avoid most inconveniences.
Animals should not be trapped, fed, or touched.
Garbage should not be left on the ground either because the animals do not understand what it is, they could break it and ingest it.
Also, it is recommended not to leave pet food within reach.
Foxes are not aggressive animals, however if they are attacked they will defend themselves.
For this reason, it is recommended to take special care with pets.
Although "the presence of foxes by itself does not imply any security problem for the residents of the area," Gillet clarified.
In addition, he denied that the animals were going to be transferred to Temaikén.
In 2022, the capybaras made headlines due to their massive appearance in Nordelta.
"The simple fact that an animal appears in a peri-urban or country area
does not imply, under any point of view, that that animal has to be removed
."
Gillet responded when asked by
Clarín
about the requests to remove or "rescue" the animals made by the neighbors.
"Because humans moved to a place, you don't have to remove the animals that 'annoy' you with their presence, but rather learn to coexist," he added.
Why is it important to respect native species?
"Human beings are only going to prosper if we grow up in a healthy and diverse environment, the diversity of species is something we have to learn to enjoy and also to coexist," Gillet said.
The latest World Conservation Organization (WWF) Living Planet Report for 2022 warned of the disturbing rate at which biodiversity is being lost on a global scale.
The average decline in populations of mammals, reptiles, birds, fish and amphibians is 69% worldwide.
In this regard, the United Nations Organization, scientists, researchers and various civil society actors recognize the importance of conserving species, not only because of their intrinsic value, but also because the survival of the human species depends on them.
A fox brought to the Temaikén Foundation because it required professional care.
"The residents of peri-urban areas have a very important civic role, that of collaborating so that a healthy and diverse, biodiverse environment thrives," said the specialist.
"If only animals that are perceived as 'nuisance' are removed, we are going to destroy those places," he added.
"Children must be taught to respect wildlife and the environment. Neighbors have to access quality information and incorporate responsible behaviors to achieve coexistence in harmony with nature," he added.
"The challenge is learning to live together and preserve it."
For questions or in case of finding injured animals that need special attention, you should call the Directorate of Flora and Fauna of the Province of Buenos Aires (011) 5300-9549.
MG
look too
After the pandemic, they propose a more flexible education that extends throughout life
From Covid to another deadly virus: the new vaccine race that 2 laboratories are running
