This month brought great news for conservation in Argentina. A Andean condor was born in Córdoba: his name is Yuspe and he came into the world on September 2nd.
This Andean condor chick (Vultur gryphus) was born at the Tatú Carreta rescue and rehabilitation center, located in Huerta Grande, Córdoba.
The birth is of particular relevance, as just a week ago the Andean condor was declared a “Natural Monument” of the province, a category of maximum protection to ensure its survival. The name, Yuspe, pays tribute to the homonymous river that crosses the Cordoba mountains.
An unusual birth and an achievement for the species
According to the center’s responsible veterinarian, María Ahumada, the birth of Yuspe is a significant achievement. Condors are slow-reproducing birds, laying only one egg per year in the best-case scenario. Even more unusual, this birth happened two months early, as chicks usually hatch in November.
The incubation process lasted 60 days, with the parents taking turns to care for the egg. Parenting is also shared and natural: the parents feed the chick by regurgitating food and protect it with their wings.
The Tatú Carreta team only intervenes to provide food, allowing the process to develop autonomously, which is crucial for the bird’s future release.
The sad story of the parents and Yuspe’s future
Yuspe’s parents, who remain in captivity, are a clear example of the impact of human actions. Both arrived at the center with irreversible injuries that prevent them from flying, so they can never return to nature. Tatú Carreta’s strategy is to form breeding pairs with these individuals, preparing their offspring for release.
Unlike his parents, Yuspe does have a future in the wild. At the center, he will learn to fly and develop his juvenile plumage for approximately a year.
Later, he will join a flock of young condors to socialize, as a step before his definitive release.
This process is lengthy and includes monitoring and tracking in conjunction with the Andean Condor Conservation Program. The ultimate goal is to ensure that each released individual successfully adapts to its natural habitat.
The Andean condor, a threatened species
The Andean condor is one of the most majestic birds on the continent. In Argentina, it is an emblematic species, but its situation is delicate. While its conservation status in the country is better than in other places in South America, it is still considered a threatened species.
Throughout the Andes mountain range, from Jujuy to Tierra del Fuego, the condor population is distributed, including areas in the mountains of Córdoba and San Luis. However, in some areas, such as the coast of Patagonia, local extinctions have already been recorded.
