Lobos de Iracema
About us

Our story

Who we are, what drives the project, and who walks alongside us for the conservation of the maned wolf in São Paulo’s Cerrado.

About the project

Science that protects

The Lobos de Iracema Project is a scientific conservation initiative focused on the maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), led by two master’s students of the Animal Biotechnology graduate program at FMVZ-UNESP Botucatu, in partnership with Grupo São Martinho and the City of Iracemápolis.

Our goal is to study the local maned wolf population to gather information that will support the development of species conservation actions.

We want to understand how they adapt to agricultural activities and to us humans, whether they are reproducing, whether their genetics are healthy and diverse, how many individuals there are and how they use the landscape.

A maned wolf free in the São Paulo CerradoA maned wolf free in the São Paulo Cerrado

Our mission

Turning scientific knowledge into concrete conservation action.

Our objectives

What guides the project

  1. 1

    Active monitoring

    We track the presence and activity of maned wolves across our study area, recording real patterns of behavior.

  2. 2

    Individual ID

    We identify each wolf as a unique individual, mapping the structure of our population: who is who and kinship.

  3. 3

    Behavior and landscape

    We study how each wolf moves through the landscape, interacts with others, and uses our fragments of Cerrado.

  4. 4

    Population health

    We assess physiological, genetic, and hormonal parameters to understand the real condition of each individual.

  5. 5

    Mapping threats

    We identify the main threats facing the species here today: human pressure, diseases from dogs, and roadkill.

  6. 6

    Environmental education

    We bring the science we produce into schools, communities, and rural properties, building local allies here.

  7. 7

    Open science

    We produce and share scientific knowledge that helps conserve the maned wolf across our São Paulo Cerrado today.

Our team

Who walks alongside us

Mariana S. O. M. Silva

Mariana S. O. M. Silva

Médica Veterinária

Lattes CV
Profa. Dra. Fabiana F. de Souza

Profa. Dra. Fabiana F. de Souza

Médica Veterinária

Lattes CV

Where we work

Our study area

5 municipalities in inland São Paulo make up the territory monitored by the project. Click on each city to learn its role.

179 km² monitorados
Study area Municipalities
Join the cause

Ready to help save the maned wolf?

Your donation funds science with real impact: DNA analyses, monitoring expeditions, and environmental education materials. Every contribution keeps the project alive.

Report a sighting
100% directed to conservation Recurring or one-time Real-impact research