{"id":2778742,"date":"2025-05-01T05:00:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-01T12:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/?post_type=blog&p=2778742"},"modified":"2025-05-01T07:04:05","modified_gmt":"2025-05-01T14:04:05","slug":"tiny-deer-big-story","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/constituent-engagement\/tiny-deer-big-story","title":{"rendered":"Tiny deer, big story: Learn how Rewilding Chile created your Community Choice Winner"},"author":276192,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":""},"categories":[37131],"tags":[398132,43821,770882],"industry":[],"product":[36611,380802],"class_list":["post-2778742","blog","type-blog","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-constituent-engagement","tag-arcgis-storymaps","tag-conservation","tag-storyscape","product-story-maps","product-arcgis-storymaps"],"acf":{"authors":[{"ID":276192,"user_firstname":"Sharon","user_lastname":"Kitchens","nickname":"Sharon Kitchens","user_nicename":"skitchens","display_name":"Sharon Kitchens","user_email":"SKitchens@esri.com","user_url":"","user_registered":"2021-09-13 15:10:14","user_description":"Arkansan now living in Maine by way of California.","user_avatar":""},{"ID":9422,"user_firstname":"Michelle","user_lastname":"Thomas","nickname":"Michelle Thomas","user_nicename":"mthomas","display_name":"Michelle Thomas","user_email":"mthomas@esri.com","user_url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/en-us\/arcgis\/products\/arcgis-storymaps\/overview","user_registered":"2019-04-05 16:54:26","user_description":"Michelle Thomas is a communications lead and content strategist on Esri's StoryMaps team. She manages the annual ArcGIS StoryMaps competition, digital platforms, and storytelling campaigns that feature storytellers globally.\r\n\r\nPrior to joining Esri, Michelle created digital campaigns at the U.S. Interior Department and U.S. Department of Agriculture. She leveraged Esri's storytelling tools at both agencies, tying people, resources, and places together through stories. She joined Esri's StoryMaps team to share those experiences widely and empower storytellers to tell stories that matter.","user_avatar":""}],"related_articles":"","short_description":"Rewilding Chile creates a wildlife corridor for the world's smallest deer\u2014and tells an award-winning story about their work. ","flexible_content":[{"acf_fc_layout":"quote","author_name":"","author_profession_organization":"","image":false,"text":"We believe that other storytellers should participate: it's a great opportunity to strengthen communication skills, connect with a global community and give visibility to stories that deserve to be told."},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

In the story \u201cNational Huemul Corridor,\u201d storytellers Ingrid Espinoza, Liliana Guzm\u00e1n, and Lorena Valenzuela of Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile highlight the collaboration between the Chilean Government and their organization to protect and restore endangered huemul populations along the Route of Parks in Patagonia. The huemul, the world\u2019s southernmost deer species, faces a critical situation\u2014fewer than 1,500 individuals are estimated to survive in Chile and Argentina, distributed in small, fragmented populations. The species is classified as “Endangered” by the IUCN and Chile’s Species Classification Regulation (RCE). These populations face multiple threats from invasive species, disease from livestock, illegal hunting, dog predation, and habitat degradation. This initiative showcases their conservation efforts and raises public awareness about the huemul\u2019s importance and need to protect its habitat, promoting actions to address these threats.<\/p>\n

The story won the Community Choice Award in the 2024 ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition as selected by the global storytelling community.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2778832,"id":2778832,"title":"Screenshot 2025-04-30 at 1.08.10\u202fPM","filename":"Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM.png","filesize":5560759,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/constituent-engagement\/tiny-deer-big-story\/screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1-08-10-pm","alt":"Huemul","author":"276192","description":"Huemul","caption":"Huemul moving through territory. Click to view the National Huemul Corridor story.","name":"screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1-08-10-pm","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2778742,"date":"2025-04-30 17:08:40","modified":"2025-04-30 19:48:37","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":2940,"height":1384,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":218,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":362,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":904,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM-1536x723.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":723,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM-2048x964.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":964,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM-826x389.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":389,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Screenshot-2025-04-30-at-1.08.10\u202fPM-1920x904.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":904}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":"https:\/\/storymaps.arcgis.com\/stories\/560cb4a7199d41fd9b50ec5e4786a51c"},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Ingrid Espinoza, a forestry engineer from the University of Chile, has been the Director of Conservation at Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile since 2001. She led the \u201cAlerce 3000\u201d restoration project in Pumal\u00edn Park and collaborated with Doug and Kris Tompkins of Tompkins Conservation on initiatives like the \u201cPatagonia Without Dams\u201d campaign. Her efforts resulted in the largest private land donation to a government, creating seven new national parks and expanding three others. Ingrid has also contributed to the Foundation\u2019s marine program and is now focused on establishing the \u201cCabo Froward\u201d national park in the Magellanes region.<\/p>\n

Lorena Valenzuela, a forestry engineer from the University of Chile, has 15 years of experience in conservation, GIS work, and environmental management. She has advised the public sector and non-governmental organizations in environmental consulting and led the Road and Native Forest Program for Pumal\u00edn Park and Patagonia National Park. Currently, Lorena is an Advisor for the Conservation Program at Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile, working directly with the Ingrid.<\/p>\n

Liliana Guzm\u00e1n, an engineer in Renewable Natural Resources from the University of Chile, specializes in spatial analysis and camera trap management. For the past five years, she has focused on wildlife dynamics and threat management. Currently, Liliana oversees data analysis from camera traps at Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile, using the findings to inform effective wildlife conservation and management strategies.<\/p>\n

The StoryMaps team recently sat down with Ingrid, Lorena, and Liliana to discuss their experience in wildlife conservation and communication. The following conversation has been edited for brevity and clarity.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2779302,"id":2779302,"title":"new separator","filename":"new-separator.png","filesize":284122,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/constituent-engagement\/tiny-deer-big-story\/new-separator","alt":"","author":"276192","description":"","caption":"","name":"new-separator","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2778742,"date":"2025-04-30 19:55:15","modified":"2025-04-30 19:55:15","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1952,"height":236,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":56,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":93,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":232,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator-1536x186.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":186,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator.png","2048x2048-width":1952,"2048x2048-height":236,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator-826x100.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":100,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/new-separator-1920x232.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":232}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Q. Can you tell our community a little bit about the mission of Rewilding Chile and your work as an organization? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

A. Ingrid: <\/strong>Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile<\/a> aims to reverse species extinction and climate change by restoring ecosystems, creating, and expanding national and marine parks, and fostering connections between people and nature. As a legacy organization of Tompkins Conservation, it focuses on biodiversity conservation through the creation of national parks and ecological restoration, including reintroduction of native species. The foundation emphasizes community engagement and strives for an integrated territorial vision of Chilean Patagonia, restoring ecosystems as complete, connected systems from the mountains to sea.<\/p>\n

Q. How does that relate specifically to the story of the huemul deer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A. Ingrid:<\/strong> Faced with the crisis of species extinction and habitat loss, Fundaci\u00f3n Rewilding Chile emphasizes large-scale species conservation in Patagonia through rewilding. This approach helps recover vegetation succession, restore trophic interactions, and improve ecosystem services by introducing key species. One significant action is creating conservation corridors.<\/p>\n

The huemul, the southernmost deer in the world, is endangered with fewer than 1,500 individuals in Chile and Argentina. Our ecological restoration efforts focus on reducing threats such as competition with exotic species, disease from livestock, illegal hunting, and habitat loss.<\/p>\n

In 2023, we established the Huemul National Corridor, a public-private initiative with the Rewilding Chile Foundation in conjunction with the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Forestry Corporation and the Agricultural and Livestock Service. This project is an ambitious initiative that aims to extend the Foundation’s experience in huemul conservation, with the goal of reestablishing huemul populations and wildlife corridors in key conservation areas in Chilean Patagonia, involving both public and private protected lands in this immense territory. This is a reflection of how our mission translates into specific actions to restore key species such as the huemul and, at the same time, the Patagonian ecosystems it inhabits.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2778982,"id":2778982,"title":"Huemul","filename":"Huemul-.png","filesize":6247455,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul-.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/constituent-engagement\/tiny-deer-big-story\/huemul","alt":"Huemul in a wooded area.","author":"276192","description":"From a wildlife cam: Captured images help identify locations and patterns but also provide crucial information about the physical condition, behavior, and potential ailments of huemuls. ","caption":"From a wildlife cam: Captured images help identify locations and patterns but also provide crucial information about the physical condition, behavior, and potential ailments of huemuls. ","name":"huemul","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2778742,"date":"2025-04-30 18:04:39","modified":"2025-04-30 18:05:17","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":1916,"height":1328,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul--213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul-.png","medium-width":377,"medium-height":261,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul-.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":532,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul-.png","large-width":1558,"large-height":1080,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul--1536x1065.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":1065,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul-.png","2048x2048-width":1916,"2048x2048-height":1328,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul--671x465.png","card_image-width":671,"card_image-height":465,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Huemul--1558x1080.png","wide_image-width":1558,"wide_image-height":1080}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Q. How do you use GIS tools to achieve your goals for the organization and the wildlife corridor?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A<\/strong>. Lorena<\/strong>: As a specialist in conservation program analysis, we use GIS tools for territorial planning and strategic decision making. These tools help identify priority conservation areas and analyze connectivity between protected regions. For the Huemul National Corridor, GIS has been instrumental in mapping populations, assessing habitat connectivity, and designing conservation actions in Chilean Patagonia.<\/p>\n

A. Liliana<\/strong>: As a researcher, GIS tools are essential for spatial analysis of data from our camera traps. We systematically monitor protected areas using a standard protocol, allowing us to obtain comparable data in time and space. GIS tools enable us to visualize species distribution, identify hotspots of presence and overlap with threats, and assess changes in habitat use.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"image","image":{"ID":2778992,"id":2778992,"title":"map","filename":"map.png","filesize":7060499,"url":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map.png","link":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/products\/story-maps\/constituent-engagement\/tiny-deer-big-story\/map-28","alt":"A photo of a huemul overlaid on a map.","author":"276192","description":"A map showing the location of the of the Futaleuf\u00fa National Reserve, an are within the National Huemul Corridor.","caption":"A map showing the location of the of the Futaleuf\u00fa National Reserve, an are within the National Huemul Corridor.","name":"map-28","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":2778742,"date":"2025-04-30 18:06:46","modified":"2025-04-30 18:09:46","menu_order":0,"mime_type":"image\/png","type":"image","subtype":"png","icon":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/wp-includes\/images\/media\/default.png","width":3012,"height":1426,"sizes":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map-213x200.png","thumbnail-width":213,"thumbnail-height":200,"medium":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map.png","medium-width":464,"medium-height":220,"medium_large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map.png","medium_large-width":768,"medium_large-height":364,"large":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map.png","large-width":1920,"large-height":909,"1536x1536":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map-1536x727.png","1536x1536-width":1536,"1536x1536-height":727,"2048x2048":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map-2048x970.png","2048x2048-width":2048,"2048x2048-height":970,"card_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map-826x391.png","card_image-width":826,"card_image-height":391,"wide_image":"https:\/\/www.esri.com\/arcgis-blog\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/map-1920x909.png","wide_image-width":1920,"wide_image-height":909}},"image_position":"center","orientation":"horizontal","hyperlink":""},{"acf_fc_layout":"content","content":"

Q. How did the interactivity of ArcGIS StoryMaps help you tell the story of the huemul deer? <\/strong><\/h3>\n

A. Lorena:<\/strong> The interactivity of ArcGIS StoryMaps was fundamental to communicate visually and effectively the huemul\u2019s critical situation and our conservation actions. One of the most relevant resources we used was the \u201cSwipe\u201d tool, which allows us to compare the huemul\u2019s historical and current distributions effectively. This visualization easily generates an immediate impact on those who explore the history by showing the drastic fragmentation of the species’ geographic range.<\/p>\n

A. Liliana:<\/strong> ArcGIS StoryMaps also enabled us to integrate interactive maps with territorial information of the protected areas we monitor, accompanied by photographs of the huemul in its natural habitat. This combination helps us identify where the species remains and reinforces the importance of conserving these areas, creating a dynamic and informative story that connects with the public.<\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"youtube","start_time":"0","end_time":"","youtube_video_url":"