The New York Times highlights conservation and coexistence efforts at Estancia Cerro Guido
In a feature published on November 4, 2026, journalist John Bartlett explores how livestock farming, wildlife conservation and tourism are finding new ways to coexist in Chilean Patagonia, highlighting the work of Fundación Cerro Guido Conservación.
What does it take to build a future where livestock farming and wildlife can coexist in the same landscape? This question lies at the heart of Under Patagonian Spires: Where Pumas, Sheep Herding and Fine Dining Collide, a feature published in The New York Times by journalist John Bartlett, with photography by Cristóbal Olivares.
Through his experience at Estancia Cerro Guido, Bartlett explores the life of a working Patagonian ranch, its rural traditions and the challenges of protecting biodiversity in a landscape historically shaped by conflict between livestock farming and large carnivores.
From conflict to coexistence
For decades, the presence of pumas has been a source of conflict for sheep farmers across Patagonia. As the article recounts, Estancia Cerro Guido was once known for the hunting of more than 80 pumas each year.
That history began to change in 2019, when conservation efforts became part of the estancia's operations, seeking new ways for livestock farming, wildlife and tourism to coexist.
One of the Foundation's main initiatives has been the introduction of Maremma livestock guardian dogs, trained to live among the flocks and deter predators. Today, the program includes 25 dogs and has contributed to a 51% reduction in puma attacks on livestock.
The article also follows visitors on a conservation experience across the estancia, where they can discover its ecosystems, observe wildlife and learn about the work being carried out to protect it.
Conservation through understanding
For Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation, protecting wildlife goes beyond implementing conservation measures. It also means helping people understand the importance of these species and the role they play in the landscape.
As Pía Vergara, founder and director of the Foundation, explains in the article:
“We want to show people how and why we are protecting these species.”
This vision is reflected in the Foundation's approach to conservation tourism: creating meaningful experiences that connect visitors with Patagonia's wildlife, ecosystems and conservation challenges, while encouraging a more respectful relationship with nature.
A deeper understanding of Patagonia
Reflecting on his experience at Cerro Guido, Bartlett highlights the importance of helping visitors connect with the territory beyond its spectacular landscapes:
“The goal, I learned, is to ensure that visitors, however involved they choose to be, leave with a deeper understanding of Patagonia, its culture and its fragile equilibrium.”
His words capture an important part of what the Foundation seeks to achieve: bringing conservation closer to people and demonstrating that protecting biodiversity is closely connected to understanding the territory, its history and the people who inhabit it.
The feature in The New York Times brings international visibility to an ongoing effort to explore new ways of balancing productive activities, local traditions and biodiversity conservation in Patagonia.
At Cerro Guido Conservation Foundation, we believe that coexistence is not a finished achievement, but a process built through research, practical conservation, education and collaboration across the territory.
Under Patagonian Spires: Where Pumas, Sheep Herding and Fine Dining Collide
By John Bartlett | November 4, 2026
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