A Pudú in Pehuén Forest: New Sighting of Chile’s Smallest Deer

For the first time, a pudú has been recorded by camera traps in Pehuén Forest. The appearance of this deer provides key scientific data for designing protective actions aligned with the National Pudú Conservation Plan (PNCP), developed by CONAF in collaboration with Chilean universities. The Plan seeks to reduce threats such as native forest loss and the presence of free-roaming dogs through restoration, monitoring, and education strategies. We spoke with the conservation team at Fundación Mar Adentro (FMA) to delve into the significance of this finding in the Andean Araucanía.

It lasts about 10 seconds: the animal is seen in profile, its small antlers clearly visible. A male deer moves through the scene until disappearing from the camera’s view. Before this footage, the only evidence of pudú presence in Pehuén Forest (PF) were stories about its tracks in the snow. It had never been captured by camera traps. Now, after being included in the potential fauna list, the presence of Chile’s smallest deer has been confirmed in this natural laboratory under the protection of Fundación Mar Adentro (FMA).

The discovery coincides with a change in the camera-trap monitoring methodology—both in the spatial arrangement of the traps and the timeframe covered. Currently, 26 camera stations are deployed throughout the forest and continuously monitor the area. This topic was explored in a conversation with the FMA conservation team, where we discussed the characteristics of this species and the implications of its recording for future management plans and conservation strategies aligned with our monitoring objectives.

Fundación Mar Adentro: What is the significance of recording a pudú via camera traps in Pehuén Forest for FMA?

Tomás Altamirano (Director of Conservation): In Chile, the pudú—an endemic species of South America’s temperate forests—ranges from Curicó to Aysén. In the northern part of its range, it mainly inhabits the Coastal and Andean mountain ranges. In the Araucanía region, the valley ecosystem is more degraded due to forestry and agriculture, so pudús are more commonly found in the mountains. This record suggests that Pehuén Forest—a private reserve—could be playing an important role as an ecological corridor in mountain ecosystems and as a buffer area for Villarrica National Park.

Sebastián Carrasco (Conservation Projects Coordinator): There are various techniques to detect a species’ presence. Until now, we only had old stories and indirect evidence like footprints and signs in the snow at higher elevations (1,200 m.a.s.l.). The camera trap footage confirms its presence. The pudú is elusive and hard to see, and has only been listed as a potential species in PF. Now, the challenge is to deepen our understanding of this vulnerable species in relation to various threats.

Felipe Guarda (Evaluation and Studies Coordinator): Having another charismatic and vulnerable species in PF may prompt us to reevaluate the conservation priorities in our management plan, making this discovery especially significant. It opens the door to conservation actions that could benefit this and many other species.

FMA: How will the data obtained through long-term monitoring be integrated to guide conservation strategies in the reserve?

TA: We will integrate the data spatially and temporally. This is the first time we’ve gathered data on pudús using this methodology. Over time, we’ll be able to draw more conclusions about their movements and seasonal patterns—whether they come down or remain at higher elevations. This will allow for more targeted decisions. Also, the presence of pudús forces us to reconsider the issue of free-roaming dogs, which are one of the greatest threats to the species. We hope to gather more data to inform zoning decisions and better understand why certain biodiversity clusters in specific areas.

SC: As Tomás said, confirming the species’ presence makes us think about direct threats like dogs and also wild boars. This means reviewing our actions related to those threats and adapting them to the fact that pudús are inhabiting these mountain forests. Human presence may also be a significant factor—if they feel threatened, pudús may flee and change habitats.

FMA: What innovations or adaptations have been implemented in your monitoring methods to improve the detection of species like the pudú?

SC: The first innovation is the change in spatial arrangement of the camera traps, inspired by CONAF’s photo-monitoring methods in protected areas. This approach aligns with the PNCP’s technical recommendations, which promote systematic monitoring using camera traps and AI to reduce data gaps on the species. Another innovation is keeping the cameras permanently in the field. We don’t rotate them; we maintain their placement, adjusting their height and angle before snowfall. We’ve also advanced in processing the camera-trap data through artificial intelligence.

FMA: From your specific areas of work, what have been the main challenges and lessons learned in biodiversity management and monitoring at PF?

TA: Monitoring high mountain areas like PF comes with challenges like steep slopes, low temperatures, and snow. For example, we need to move the cameras up or down to prevent them from being buried in snow, which requires constant effort and planning. Understanding movement and seasonality is key to appreciating the conservation value of these areas.

FG: One of the biggest challenges is data management. As we increase the number of cameras, it becomes more complex to structure and process the images to gain insights quickly—ideally close to the moment of capture. We’re adding gigabytes of data each year, and soon the cloud will no longer suffice. We’re considering setting up a dedicated server to manage the volume of data we’re now handling.

SC: My learning curve has been steep and mostly tied to fieldwork experience: monitoring logistics, organizing material, checking the status of the cameras. You can go to the mountain, install cameras, and still not capture useful footage. The challenge is to reach a location and think critically about which specific spot is ideal for a pudú or a güiña. You end up becoming the animal, imagining which path it might take. Learning is constant. Maintaining this over the long term is one of the biggest challenges, both personally and financially for conservation efforts.

TA: I would add that it’s a long-term learning process. Last year it snowed in April; this year it didn’t snow until June. You need several years of perspective to understand the patterns.

FMA: What are the medium- and long-term goals for Fundación Mar Adentro to continue promoting conservation and monitoring of charismatic species and conservation values?

TA: Next steps involve ensuring that the vast amount of information we’re collecting truly contributes to biodiversity conservation in PF and beyond, thinking of global contexts like the Biosphere Reserve. We aim to have this information inform management decisions as quickly as possible. It’s easy to get sidetracked with other analyses, so we need to stay focused, especially since we’re aiming to become a National Reserve, pending review by the Ministry of the Environment. We also have the opportunity to integrate fine-scale zoning based on the data we’re collecting, which requires rigor. A key next step is to support long-term conservation decisions that connect to a broader scale beyond PF.

FG: I see great value in integrating PF within a broader geographical context—especially in relation to Villarrica National Park (PNV), which it borders—and the Araucarias Biosphere Reserve. We need to be strategic in understanding how PF functions as a buffer zone for PNV. It’s no coincidence that one of the two sites where the pudú was spotted is near the park’s edge.

SC: I’m mainly focused on the medium-term goal of developing evidence-based conservation and creating a management plan grounded in robust analysis and operational plans. These should include continuous monitoring to ensure the effective conservation of temperate forests in La Araucanía.

About the Interviewees:

Tomás Altamirano is Director of Conservation at Fundación Mar Adentro (FMA). He works at the science-policy interface, addressing biodiversity conservation challenges and sustainable cohabitation. At FMA, he leads strategic conservation planning, scientific research in Pehuén Forest, mountain ecosystem studies, and national and international strategic partnerships. He previously coordinated Chile’s National Bird Conservation Strategy 2021–2030. He studied forestry sciences and holds a PhD and postdoctoral fellowship in mountain biodiversity ecology and conservation. His work focuses on the intersection of applied ecological research and conservation management/planning.

Sebastián Carrasco is Conservation Project Coordinator at FMA. He holds a degree in Natural Resource Management Biology from the Catholic University of Temuco and a Master’s in Science with a specialization in Botany from the University of Concepción. He has worked as a researcher and field biologist on conservation projects in Chilean Patagonia and led ecological restoration projects in Araucaria forests affected by fires. His master’s research analyzed the impacts of pine invasions on plant communities as part of a Fondecyt project from the Biological Invasions Laboratory at the University of Concepción and the Institute of Ecology and Biodiversity.

Felipe Guarda is the Evaluation and Studies Coordinator at FMA. He is a sociologist from the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC) and holds a Master’s in Environment from the University of Melbourne. He has worked as a social researcher at the UC Justice and Society Center and as an analyst in environmental protection. At FMA, he supports the design and evaluation of conservation projects and develops data analysis from biodiversity monitoring.