The story of Pequi: A plot of overcoming, resilience and resignification

The largest canid of South America, the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), is a typical animal of the Cerrado that can also be found in the Pampas, Chaco, transition areas with the Caatinga, in the eastern portion of the Pantanal and in the southern general fields of the country, although studies indicate the recent expansion of its territory to areas that were until then recognized as limiting for its occurrence, such as the Amazon Biome (CHEIDA et al. 2006; QUEIROLO et al. 2011; RAMOS et. al. 2018; SILVA-DIOGO et al. 2020). The species plays a vital role in ecosystems, with its omnivorous diet, the maned wolf acts as seed disperser and controlling populations of small vertebrates, besides its representatives have a large displacement capacity and a wide area of housing  (BUENO & MOTTA-JÚNIOR, 2004; CHEIDA et al. 2006; JÁCOMO et al. 2009; PAULA et al. 2013).

The maned wolf is globally listed as almost threatened by the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species, and its populations are in increasing decline due to factors such as trampling of fauna, loss of natural habitats and pathogens from domestic animals  (WHITEMAN et al. 2007; QUEIROLO et al. 2011; PAULA et al. 2013). Paula et al. (2013) developed a population viability model (VORTEX) taking into account biological and demographic parameters, and thus found that the species should suffer a population reduction of at least 29% in the next 21 years (3 generations), from the year of the study. 

Faced with threats and the growing decline of the species, researchers participating in the National Action Plan for Canine Conservation have established as a necessary action for the conservation of maned wolves, the creation of protocols for rehabilitation and release of rescued puppies. From this, zoological institutions and NGOs working with the conservation of fauna have joined efforts to avoid the extinction of the maned wolf, and so was the case of Pequi, a female wolf-guará rescued while still fledgling along with her four brothers. After the death of his mother, the five cubs were found by the team of Onçafari, an NGO that works for the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity. 

After the rescue, there was a mobilization of the National Center for Research and Conservation of Carnivores (CENAP/ ICMBio), and the animals were then rescued, cared for and sent to the in constant clinical care and nutritional management, to ensure that the puppies develop properly. After a few months of care, the five cubs had survived and developed, which would hardly occur in free life, and for this reason the release of these animals was made in different places. There were then three projects, one coordinated by the team of Onçafari in the region of Trijunção, another by the team of Parque Vida Cerrado in Western Bahia, and one in the Federal District coordinated by the NGO Jaguaracambé, a non-governmental organization working on several conservation fronts in the Cerrado. 

Caption. Photograph of a female maned wolf, Pequi still pup, while she was under the care of the Fundação Jardim Zoológico de Brasília. Credits: Marcella Lasneaux. 

The wolf Pequi was assigned to the care of Jaguaracambé, who proceeded with the work of setting and adaptation for its subsequent release. It was built a rehabilitation enclosure within the Cerrado area where would happen release in the future, in the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Cafuringa in the Federal District, where Pequi lived for 14 months, and was accustomed to local food, stimulated to express natural behaviors and even had contact with other maned wolves of free life of the region, which eventually approached the enclosure. The behavior of Pequi was monitored by the NGO through cameras to reduce contact with humans as much as possible, and from this monitoring was made an assessment of the animal’s conditions for release, being observed the hunting ability, consumption of native fruits of the Cerrado, the reduction of imprinting with humans and the expression of natural behaviors of the species.  

After verifying the release conditions and considering that the animal was already fit to return to nature, the US educational institution Smithsonian donated a GPS collar to the NGO Jaguaracambé, which was used in monitoring the Pequi after its release. The collar was installed about thirty days before release and, during this process, Jaguaracambé also monitored the health status of carnivores in the region and developed environmental education activities to explain the project and the importance of  conserving the maned wolf for the local population. After the alignment of all factors, the release of Pequi was carried out on April 17, 2023, mildly from the opening of the enclosure and waiting for the exit of the animal by free and spontaneous will. 

Caption. Moment of the release of Pequi, and its exit from the enclosure. Credits: Catarina Tokatjian. 

After her release, Pequi was monitored by GPS tracking and periodic face-to-face views through telemetry tracking. For eight months the NGO’s efforts and records indicated that Pequi had adapted very well to free life, having gained 2kg of mass after release, and was exploring the vastness of its habitat as recorded through its GPS data. However, unfortunately Pequi was not free from the difficulties that plague the species, such as the aforementioned factors responsible for the decline of maned wolves populations throughout the country, such as the trampling of fauna for example. On 14/12/2023, Pequi was hit by a car on the BR-080 highway and unfortunately died. Faced with this tragic outcome, the NGO Jaguaracambé did not put an end to the life story of this animal that had captivated so many, and from this sad plot it was decided to resignify this history and makeIt is the starting point for more effective projects to mitigate wildlife overruns and population awareness. 

Pequi became an ambassador and patron of several ideas and projects aimed at the conservation of Cerrado fauna, such as her participation in the film "Thiago e Ísis e os biomas do Brasil", a film intended to raise awareness among children about the importance of preserving the country’s biomes, Pequi also stars in the children’s book "Pequi e o Cerrado voador", a book that addresses several curiosities and characteristics of the Cerrado biome, composing an interesting tool for environmental education. Jaguaracambé also began to act in favor of effective public policies, such as the monitoring of highways and implementation of wildlife passages, Having promoted a public hearing in the plenary of the Legislative Chamber of the Federal District where it was discussed the mandatory implementation of wildlife passages on highways, monitoring and awareness strategies for the mitigation of tampering with fauna. The story of Pequi is just one among many others that unfolded tragically on highways across the country, so it is important to use it to avoid future losses and reduce as much as possible the decline in wolf-guera populations and so many other wild species. 

Author/s: Arthur Freitas Silva dos Santos - GEAS Brazil’s Director of Languages and Accessibility

Review: Iago Junqueira  - GEAS BRASIL partner by The Wild Place

Wild Panel of October/2025

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL REFERENCES:

• BUENO, A. A.; MOTTA-JUNIOR, J. C. Food habits of two syntopic canids, the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus) and the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous), in southeastern Brazil. Revista Chilena de Historia Natural, v. 77, n. 1, p. 5–14, 2004.

• CHEIDA, C. C.; NAKANO-OLIVEIRA, R.; FUSCO-COSTA, R.; ROCHA-MENDES, F.; QUADROS, J. Ordem Carnivora. In: REIS, N. R.; PERACCHI, A. L.; PEDRO, W. A.; LIMA, I. P. (org.). Mamíferos do Brasil. Londrina: Universidade Estadual de Londrina, 2006. p. 231–275.

• JÁCOMO, A. T. A.; KASHIVAKURA, C. K.; FERRO, C.; FURTADO, M. M.; ASTETE, S. P.; TÔRRES, N. M.; SOLLMANN, R.; SILVEIRA, L. Home range and spatial organization of maned wolves in the Brazilian grasslands. Journal of Mammalogy, v. 90, n. 1, p. 150–157, 2009.

• PAULA, R. C. de; RODRIGUES, F. H. G.; QUEIROLO, D.; JORGE, R. P. S.; LEMOS, F. G.; RODRIGUES, L. A. Chrysocyon brachyurus (Illiger, 1815) no Brasil. Biodiversidade Brasileira, v. 3, n. 1, p. 146-159, 2013.

• QUEIROLO, D.; MOREIRA, J. R.; SOLER, L.; EMMONS, L. H.; RODRIGUES, F. H. G.; PAUTASSO, A. S. A.; CARTES, J. L.; SALVATORI, V. Historical and current range of the Near Threatened maned wolf Chrysocyon brachyurus in South America. Oryx, v. 45, n. 2, p. 296–303, 2011.

• RAMOS, D.; SILVA, D.; PASCARELLI, B. O papel da substituição do cerrado por áreas de agropecuária e a extinção do lobo guará. Semioses: Inovação, Desenvolvimento e Sustentabilidade, Rio de Janeiro, v. 12, n. 2, p. 97-111, abr./jun. 2018.

• SILVA-DIOGO, O., GOEBEL, L. G. A., SOUSA, M. R. D., GUSMÃO, A. C., COSTA, T. M. D., JESUS, A. D. S., & CAVALCANTE, T.  Expansão da área de ocorrência do lobo-guará, Chrysocyon brachyurus (Carnivora, Canidae) no bioma Amazônico. Oecologia Australis, v. 24, n. 4, p. 928-937, 2020.

• WHITEMAN, C. W., MATUSHIMA, E. R., CONFALONIERI, U. E. C., PALHA, M. D. D. C., DA SILVA, A. D. S. L., & MONTEIRO, V. C.  Human and domestic animal populations as a potential threat to wild carnivore conservation in a fragmented landscape from the Eastern Brazilian Amazon. Biological Conservation, v. 138, n. 1-2, p. 290-296, 2007.