The **Andean condor**, [symbol of the Andes](https://noticiasambientales.com/animales/neuquen-realizo-el-censo-del-condor-andino-para-proteger-a-esta-ave-centinela-de-la-extincion/) and a central figure in the worldview of indigenous peoples, faces numerous threats but also finds tireless defenders.
In Argentina, the work of **biologist Luis Jácome**, president of the **Bioandina Foundation**, has been key: in 33 years they have **rescued 507 individuals**, a figure that is equivalent to the entire estimated population of condors in countries like Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador combined.
This effort is part of the **Perpetual Planet Initiative by Rolex**, which supports high-impact environmental actions. With an articulated network of actors, the Bioandina Foundation has built a **unique rescue, rehabilitation, and conservation system** covering the **over 2 million km² of distribution** that the species has in Argentina.
A national protocol for rescue and rehabilitation
The process begins when a wounded condor is sighted. Provincial authorities activate rescue protocols, provide first aid, and, if necessary, manage their transfer to **specialized rehabilitation centers**. An agreement with **Aerolíneas Argentinas**—whose institutional image includes precisely a condor—allows for quick transfers.
Rescued condors are clinically evaluated and, depending on their evolution, they can be **reintegrated into nature, included in a breeding program, or remain in captivity**.
Active conservation against multiple threats
Despite the success of the model, the condor faces **serious threats**:
- Poisoned bait: used by ranchers against carnivores like pumas or foxes, this practice poisons the entire scavenger chain, including condors. Although it has decreased since 2017, it remains the primary risk.
- Lead ingestion: by feeding on animals shot with lead ammunition, condors suffer from lead poisoning, a fatal intoxication.
- High-voltage power lines: the expansion of electrical networks increases the risk of electrocution.
- Poorly planned wind farms: based on international experiences, these could become new mortality zones if their locations are not strategically evaluated.
The Andean condor and an irreplaceable ecological and cultural role
The condor is not only a cultural emblem—present in myths and ancestral rituals—but also plays a **key sanitary role**:
- It feeds on **carrion**, contributing to the safe decomposition of organic matter.
- It **starts a scavenger chain** by opening the hide of large animals.
- It **reduces zoonotic risks**, avoiding possible infection sources.
Releases, breeding, and hope
Out of the 500+ rescued condors, **258 have been released back into the wild**. Each release is experienced with emotion.
Condors that cannot be reintegrated are part of a **captive breeding program**. Due to their **low reproductive rate** (reaching sexual maturity at 9 years and breeding only every two or three years), this strategy is crucial to strengthen natural populations.
Collective commitment for a millenary species
The Andean condor represents more than a bird: it is a **symbol of mountain ecosystems and of our ancestral relationship with nature**.
The experience of the Bioandina Foundation shows that, with organization, will, and interinstitutional commitment, **it is possible to reverse the fate of vulnerable species**.
*Cover photo: Eduardo Quintanilla/EBird*
