The pampas deer Ozotoceros bezoarticus is categorized as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List. However, it now occurs in < 2% of the original extent of its southern range, in Argentina and Uruguay. Populations are small and isolated as a result of habitat loss to agriculture, and poaching. In 2020, we obtained support from the Uruguayan Ministry of Environment (National Board of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services) to census the population and to improve the genetic variability of pampas deer in the captive breeding centre Estación de cria de Fauna Autóctona de Piriápolis. This centre was founded in 1980 with 10 pampas deer from the Arerunguá population in Salto and currently numbers 156. Population fluctuations and genetic data suggest this captive population is suffering inbreeding depression, and therefore in March 2022 we captured five wild males to collect semen, to introduce genetic variability into the captive population.
We captured five males on two livestock ranches in Arerunguá. Each male was weighed, faeces, blood, ectoparasites and semen were collected, and we tagged them with an ear tag and GPS radio collar. Simultaneously, in the captive breeding centre, nine females were submitted to an oestrous cycle synchronization protocol. In the second week, we carried out transcervical artificial insemination, and the females were in good condition.
Seven months later we found the inseminations had been unsuccessful, with none of the females pregnant. However, we successfully recorded the daily movements and home ranges of the five males. The collars dropped off by the end of March 2023, and were successfully recovered.
Although the inseminations were unsuccessful, we have demonstrated that male and female pampas deer can be handled without any resulting health issues or injuries. We are now revising the protocols for optimizing the oestrous cycle synchronization so that we can reattempt insemination in the next reproductive season.
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