Andean Condor

Vultur gryphus

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is a huge New World vulture of the Andes and Pacific coasts of western South America. Its long, broad wings are built for soaring on mountain thermals, allowing it to search wide areas for carrion with little flapping. Adults are mostly black with white wing patches and a white neck ruff; males are larger and usually show a fleshy comb on the head. Slow maturity and low reproductive output make population losses difficult to replace.

Work with Andean condors includes zoo breeding, rehabilitation, safe release programs, and reducing hazards around feeding sites. Captive condors need expansive flight space or carefully designed holding, elevated perches, clean carcass-based diets, and quiet nest ledges or cavities for pairs. Field teams monitor poisoning from lead ammunition, intentionally poisoned carcasses, power-line collisions, and disturbance at roosts and nest cliffs. Some programs use health checks, wing tags, transmitters, and community outreach with ranchers so condors can feed without being treated as livestock threats.