Management Policies for Invasive Equines in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina.
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Published:
Feb 4, 2026
Keywords:
Feral horses, mustangs, protected areas, Tierra del Fuego Island
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Abstract
In Argentina, the management of wild horse populations and invasive equine livestock in protected areas is a controversial issue due to their multifaceted status as both an introduced species in local ecosystems and an icon of national culture. In this paper, we attempt to synthesize current knowledge on the ecological effects and social dimensions of the management of feral horses and invasive equine livestock that graze irregularly in Tierra del Fuego National Park. The different management practices that have been applied are analyzed, and existing information gaps are identified. Finally, suggestions are made for research that would be beneficial in reducing the current public controversy surrounding horse management in the protected area.
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How to Cite
Carpinetti, B. N., Andreassi, C., Almirón, M., & Aparicio, G. (2026). Management Policies for Invasive Equines in Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina. Revista Latinoamericana De Recursos Naturales, 22, 24-34. Retrieved from https://revista.itson.edu.mx/index.php/rlrn/article/view/377
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Original Article
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
References
APN, 2007. Plan de Manejo del Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego. Administración de Parques Nacionales, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
APN, 2019. Plan de Gestión Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego 2021-2030. Administración de Parques Nacionales, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
ARAF, 2012. “Matanza de equinos”. Disponible en https://araf.com.ar/caso-matanza-equinos.html
Ballari S. A., Cuevas M. F., Cirignoli, S., Valenzuela, A. E. 2015. Invasive wild boar in Argentina: using protected areas as a research platform to determine distribution, impacts and management. Biological Invasions 17: 1595–1602.
Beever, E. A., Brussard, P. F. 2000. Charismatic megafauna or exotic pest? Interactions between popular perceptions of feral horses (Equus caballus) and their management and research. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference (Vol. 19, No. 19).
Bostal, F., Scorolli, A. L., Zalba, S. M. 2025. Horseback opinions: what do visitors see when they see the wild horses that concern conservation biologists? Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127455.
Caughley, G. J., Sinclair, R., Scott-Kemis, D. 1976. Experiments in aerial survey. Journal of Wildlife Management. 40: 290– 300.
Crane, K. K., Smith, M. A., Reynolds, D. 1997. Habitat selection patterns of feral horses in southcentral Wyoming. J. Range Manag. 50, 374–380.
Davies, K. W., Boyd, C. S. 2019. Ecological effects of free- roaming horses in North American rangelands. BioScience 69, 558–565.
Diario El Sureño (27 de abril de 2016) “La Justicia otorgó un plazo de 30 días para resolver el problema de los caballos sueltos”. Disponible en https://www.surenio.com.ar/40497- 2/
Dyring, J. 1990. The Impact of Feral Horses (Equus caballus) on Sub-alpine and Montane Environments in Australia. M. Appl. Sci. thesis. University of Canberra, ACT.
El Diario del Fin del Mundo (5 de agosto de 2012) “Iniciaron una causa penal contra guardaparques por matanza de caballos”. Disponible en https://www.eldiariodelfindelmundo.com/noticias/2012/08/0 5/43449-iniciaron-una-causa-penal-contra-guardaparques- por-matanza-de-caballos
Eldridge, D. J., Ding, J., Travers, S. K. 2020. Feral horse activity reduces environmental quality in ecosystems globally. Biological Conservation, 241, 108367.
Hampson, B. A., de Laat, M. A., Mills, P. C., Pollitt, C. C. 2010. Distances travelled by feral horses in “outback” Australia. Equine Vet. J. 42, 582–586.
Laake, J., Dawson, M. J., Hone, J. 2008. Visibility bias in aerial survey: mark recapture, line-transect or both? Wildlife Research 35:299-309.
Lubow B. C., Ransom J. I. 2016. Practical Bias Correction in Aerial Surveys of Large Mammals: Validation of Hybrid Double-Observer with Sightability Method against Known Abundance of Feral Horse (Equus caballus) Populations. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0154902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154902.
Pollock, K. H., Kendall, W. L. 1987. Visibility Bias in Aerial Surveys: A Review of Estimation Procedures. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 51(2), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.2307/3801040
Prober, S., Thiele, K., 2007. Assessment of Impacts of Feral Horses (Equus caballus) in the Australian Alps. A Report to Parks Victoria.
Scasta, J. D., Adams, M., Gibbs, R., Fleury, B. 2020. Free- ranging horse management in Australia, New Zealand and the United States: socio-ecological dimensions of a protracted environmental conflict. The Rangeland Journal, 42(2), 127–144. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ19019.
Scorolli, A. L. 2016. Manejo de caballos cimarrones: La situación en la Argentina. Mastozoología Neotropical, 23(2), 325–333.
TDF News (27 de junio de 2025) “Refuerzan controles sobre caballos sueltos en Ushuaia para prevenir riesgos viales”. Disponible en https://tdfnews.com.ar/refuerzan-controles- sobre-caballos-sueltos-en-ushuaia-para-prevenir-riesgos- viales/
Valenzuela, A. E., Anderson C. B., Fasola L., Cabello J. L. 2014. Linking invasive exotic vertebrates and their ecosystem impacts in Tierra del Fuego to test theory and determine action. Acta Oecologica 54: 110–118.
Worboys, G. L., Pulsford, I. 2013. Observations of Pest Horse Impacts in the Australian Alps, Canberra. Disponible en www.mountains-wcpa.org
Worboys, G. L., Driscoll, D., Crabb, P. 2018. Feral Horse Impacts: The Kosciuszko Science Conference– Conference Abstracts. Australian Academy of Science, The Australian National University and Deakin, University, Canberra.
APN, 2019. Plan de Gestión Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego 2021-2030. Administración de Parques Nacionales, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego.
ARAF, 2012. “Matanza de equinos”. Disponible en https://araf.com.ar/caso-matanza-equinos.html
Ballari S. A., Cuevas M. F., Cirignoli, S., Valenzuela, A. E. 2015. Invasive wild boar in Argentina: using protected areas as a research platform to determine distribution, impacts and management. Biological Invasions 17: 1595–1602.
Beever, E. A., Brussard, P. F. 2000. Charismatic megafauna or exotic pest? Interactions between popular perceptions of feral horses (Equus caballus) and their management and research. Proceedings of the Vertebrate Pest Conference (Vol. 19, No. 19).
Bostal, F., Scorolli, A. L., Zalba, S. M. 2025. Horseback opinions: what do visitors see when they see the wild horses that concern conservation biologists? Journal of Environmental Management, 394, 127455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.127455.
Caughley, G. J., Sinclair, R., Scott-Kemis, D. 1976. Experiments in aerial survey. Journal of Wildlife Management. 40: 290– 300.
Crane, K. K., Smith, M. A., Reynolds, D. 1997. Habitat selection patterns of feral horses in southcentral Wyoming. J. Range Manag. 50, 374–380.
Davies, K. W., Boyd, C. S. 2019. Ecological effects of free- roaming horses in North American rangelands. BioScience 69, 558–565.
Diario El Sureño (27 de abril de 2016) “La Justicia otorgó un plazo de 30 días para resolver el problema de los caballos sueltos”. Disponible en https://www.surenio.com.ar/40497- 2/
Dyring, J. 1990. The Impact of Feral Horses (Equus caballus) on Sub-alpine and Montane Environments in Australia. M. Appl. Sci. thesis. University of Canberra, ACT.
El Diario del Fin del Mundo (5 de agosto de 2012) “Iniciaron una causa penal contra guardaparques por matanza de caballos”. Disponible en https://www.eldiariodelfindelmundo.com/noticias/2012/08/0 5/43449-iniciaron-una-causa-penal-contra-guardaparques- por-matanza-de-caballos
Eldridge, D. J., Ding, J., Travers, S. K. 2020. Feral horse activity reduces environmental quality in ecosystems globally. Biological Conservation, 241, 108367.
Hampson, B. A., de Laat, M. A., Mills, P. C., Pollitt, C. C. 2010. Distances travelled by feral horses in “outback” Australia. Equine Vet. J. 42, 582–586.
Laake, J., Dawson, M. J., Hone, J. 2008. Visibility bias in aerial survey: mark recapture, line-transect or both? Wildlife Research 35:299-309.
Lubow B. C., Ransom J. I. 2016. Practical Bias Correction in Aerial Surveys of Large Mammals: Validation of Hybrid Double-Observer with Sightability Method against Known Abundance of Feral Horse (Equus caballus) Populations. PLoS ONE 11(5): e0154902. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0154902.
Pollock, K. H., Kendall, W. L. 1987. Visibility Bias in Aerial Surveys: A Review of Estimation Procedures. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 51(2), 502–510. https://doi.org/10.2307/3801040
Prober, S., Thiele, K., 2007. Assessment of Impacts of Feral Horses (Equus caballus) in the Australian Alps. A Report to Parks Victoria.
Scasta, J. D., Adams, M., Gibbs, R., Fleury, B. 2020. Free- ranging horse management in Australia, New Zealand and the United States: socio-ecological dimensions of a protracted environmental conflict. The Rangeland Journal, 42(2), 127–144. https://doi.org/10.1071/RJ19019.
Scorolli, A. L. 2016. Manejo de caballos cimarrones: La situación en la Argentina. Mastozoología Neotropical, 23(2), 325–333.
TDF News (27 de junio de 2025) “Refuerzan controles sobre caballos sueltos en Ushuaia para prevenir riesgos viales”. Disponible en https://tdfnews.com.ar/refuerzan-controles- sobre-caballos-sueltos-en-ushuaia-para-prevenir-riesgos- viales/
Valenzuela, A. E., Anderson C. B., Fasola L., Cabello J. L. 2014. Linking invasive exotic vertebrates and their ecosystem impacts in Tierra del Fuego to test theory and determine action. Acta Oecologica 54: 110–118.
Worboys, G. L., Pulsford, I. 2013. Observations of Pest Horse Impacts in the Australian Alps, Canberra. Disponible en www.mountains-wcpa.org
Worboys, G. L., Driscoll, D., Crabb, P. 2018. Feral Horse Impacts: The Kosciuszko Science Conference– Conference Abstracts. Australian Academy of Science, The Australian National University and Deakin, University, Canberra.