In the small town of 28 de Noviembre, in Santa Cruz, the Andean condor is not just a symbol: it is part of the community’s identity. With only 9,000 inhabitants, the municipality has developed a deep bond with this majestic bird, promoting its observation, rescue, and care for almost two decades.
Thanks to these efforts, the town dreams of becoming the National Capital of the Andean Condor, supported by unprecedented records and sustained work that has strengthened the conservation of the species in the region.
The first condor counts in the area
The project began in 2002, when biologists and researchers from the Academic Unit of Río Gallegos arrived in the coal basin with the objective of counting condors. It was carried out in two nearby ranches, and the result was 80 registered specimens.
Although initially the initiative sought to link the presence of condors with ecotourism, it did not prosper at that time. However, in 2005, the town resumed the project, and in 2007, the first condor viewpoint was inaugurated, becoming the first tourist attraction of the locality.
Since then, 28 de Noviembre and the condor have become inseparable.
The cultural impact of the condor on the community
The influence of the condor in the town was reflected in a contest to design the town’s flag, where 51 out of 52 entries included the figure of the emblematic bird.
Additionally, in 2008, the tourist brand “Valle del Cóndor” was promoted, and in 2009, the Cerro de la Cruz Reserve was created, an educational natural area dedicated to the observation and conservation of the species.
A year later, the Deliberative Council of 28 de Noviembre officially declared the town as the Provincial Capital of the Andean Condor, with the support of the Santa Cruz Legislature.
The growth of population censuses
Since then, the association Somos Huellas Patagónicas, led by Franco Paz, has conducted systematic censuses on the condor population in the area:
- 2012: First winter survey at viewpoints, with 65 condors recorded.
- 2014: Expansion of the study to condor nesting sites, natural spaces where condors live, with a total of 96 specimens.
- 2020: Inclusion of new analysis areas, including Sierra Baguales and condor nesting sites.
- 2022: Optimized count with 110 condors tallied.
A historic milestone: the record of 134 condors
In April 2025, the community achieved an unprecedented record, counting 134 specimens, the highest number in the region.
Thanks to coordinated efforts with local volunteers, small businesses, and specialists, a precise methodology was applied, defining strategic observation points on the cliffs where condors nest.
Each observer recorded the condors leaving the roosts from 8:30 in the morning, repeating rounds every 30 minutes to avoid duplications.
Additionally, the sex and age of the specimens were determined:
- 52 adult males.
- 65 adult females.
- 17 individuals not classified due to light conditions or flight speed.
The path to becoming the national capital of the condor
These results strengthened the project for 28 de Noviembre to be declared the National Capital of the Andean Condor, an initiative presented by Senator Ana María Ianni in the National Senate.
The town competes with Jujuy, which in its latest survey recorded 127 condors in 24 observation points, involving the work of 74 people.
While Congress evaluates the proposal, the community continues to push for a new goal: the creation of a Condor Care and Recovery Center in the town.
The town that looks to the sky
From 28 de Noviembre, residents continue to gaze at the sky, where among the clouds and the mountains, condors fly as a symbol of identity and hope.
The official declaration would be a recognition of the effort of an entire community, which for over 20 years has defended the habitat of this majestic species, turning it into the emblem of a town fighting for conservation.
