An adult Andean condor was rescued in the area of La Florida, San Luis, after a surveillance system of a telephone company detected its unusual presence in the vicinity of a telecommunications tower.
Alerted by the monitoring, the company quickly contacted the Environmental and Ecological Brigade of the Police, which together with the provincial fauna team carried out the transfer of the bird to the Floro Faunistic Reserve of La Florida, where it is currently receiving specialized veterinary care.
Initial diagnosis and current condition
According to Andrea Gangone, a veterinarian at the Wildlife Conservation Center, the condor:
- Is an adult male
- Does not have visible wounds
- Has mild diarrhea, but good appetite
- Is slightly underweight and has an old injury on one of its claws
“He does not have new wounds. If he hit something, it was not serious. He probably landed in an area with a wall and a container, unable to take flight,” explained Gangone.
The animal will undergo blood tests and X-rays during the week to rule out internal complications or anemias, a condition that can severely weaken its respiratory and energy capacity.
This was the rescue of the Andean condor
Veterinary risks and unusual environment for an Andean condor
The veterinary team will pay special attention to detecting anemia, a symptom that in condors can indicate:
- Infections or intoxications
- Reduction of red blood cells and oxygen transport capacity
- Fatigue, difficulty flying or hunting
Gangone also highlighted that it is not common to observe condors in flat areas: “They are usually found in mountainous environments. Collisions with antennas usually occur in juveniles. In adults, this is an exception.”
Interinstitutional coordination and environmental monitoring
The rescue of the Andean condor involved:
- Corporate alert systems
- Provincial fauna brigades
- Environmental police
- Veterinarians specialized in birds of prey
The Floro Faunistic Reserve is constantly monitoring the specimen, with nutritional and health checks, in order to ensure its recovery and evaluate a possible reintegration into its natural habitat.
