Leonardo DiCaprio urges Chile to reroute power line to protect endangered frog

Actor Leonardo DiCaprio shared images of the Pehuenche frog on Instagram, warning that the planned Los Cóndores-Río Diamante 500-kilovolt transmission line could jeopardize the species, of which under 1,000 individuals survive in the high Andes of Chile and Argentina. He urged authorities to relocate the line instead of halting the project, noting that conservationists are not seeking an outright stop. The scheme, promoted by Enel Generación Chile, would install a 26.6-kilometer overhead line with 72 towers through the frog’s sole known habitat.

Following DiCaprio’s message, the Environmental Assessment Commission postponed its ruling on the project’s approval, offering no new timetable. Environment Minister Francisca Toledo declined to comment on the merits, citing Chile’s robust environmental review framework. Biologist Claudio Azat, director of the One Health Institute and co-chair of the IUCN amphibian specialist group, explained the frog’s unique biology and restricted range, adding that the celebrity’s involvement has amplified conservation attention.