Throughout South America, the condor stands as an iconic symbol of great significance. Revered for their majestic presence, these extraordinary birds are seen as guardians of our souls and conduits for prayers. In ancient Inca beliefs, they were believed to be immortal. Unfortunately, human greed and the relentless exploitation of natural resources have pushed the condor to the brink of extinction. Recent years have witnessed a concerning increase in condor deaths in Argentina, largely due to intoxication and poisoning caused by livestock protection practices.
This project captures the profound connection between this species and the land it oversees, the communities that deeply honor its mythical presence and a small group of people fight against its extinction.
The Bird King
Tama is a female rescued condor that lives in the Sierra de los Quinteros of Argentina s La Rioja province She now shares her home with Olta a male condor who arrived from Tierra del Fuego s southern province In contrast Tama was found shackled in a house within a village bearing her name on the slopes of the Quinteros mountain range br br Thanks to the Andean Condor Conservation Program Tama and Olta successfully produced multiple young subsequently released into the wild
The Bird King
Bartolina del Valle de Casimiro was pictured in Taf del Valle Tucum n province Argentina wearing llama wool Bartolina belongs to the Diaguita nation and is a member of the Movement of Women for Good Living which aims to recover and spread ancestral knowledge such as textile art production of healthy foods and natural medicines In almost all indigenous communities across the continent the condor is considered sacred In four South American countries it serves as the heraldic animal and its extinction would symbolize the disappearance of both biodiversity and cultural identity
The Bird King
Valle Encantado located in the Los Cardones National Park Salta province Argentina is an excellent location to spot Andean condors in the sky In Argentina they tend to prefer valleys of lower altitude rather than high mountain peaks The Andean Condor Conservation Program PCCA rescues and releases condors here but some residents of nearby pastoral towns are skeptical about condor releases because they fear the birds will hunt their livestock although this has not been observed
The Bird King
The female condor named Suyan was found dead in June 2021 in the town of Choele Choel in br the province of R o Negro after ingesting a lead bullet while feeding on an animal shot by a br hunter br Suyan was born at the Yastay Rescue and Preservation Center in the province of La Rioja and br was released along with 6 other condors with no flying experience in September 2019 under the br PCCA Andean Condor Conservation Program The Return of the Condor to the Sea in Sierra br Pailem n in Atlantic coast of Patagonia
The Bird King
Five condor chicks with no flight experience were released and photographed standing over a rock on September 17 2021 in Sierra Pailem n located in the province of Rio Negro Argentina In December 2003 thanks to an international conservation effort called The Return of the Condor to the Sea the condor species was reintroduced into the Atlantic Ocean Naturalists such as Darwin and Hudson had observed condors in the Atlantic Ocean a century ago br br The PCCA project has released over 64 condors with no flight experience in Sierra Paileman in the Rio Negro Province where intensive fieldwork takes place The use of sophisticated radio tracking systems telemetry and satellite transmission allows naturalists to investigate the flight of condors These investigations have revealed the condor s ability to reach distances of over 600 km from their place of release linking the mountain range with the sea and identifying key conservation areas for these magnificent birds on the Patagonian coast
The Bird King
Luis Jacome director of Argentina s Bioandina project employs a latex puppet with a male condor s head to feed and nurture captive-born condor chicks raised in isolation By using the puppet as a surrogate parent Jacome avoids human imprinting and ensures the chicks develop their species identity This innovative approach increases their chances of successful reintegration into the wild benefiting condor conservation efforts The puppet is a cost-effective and reusable tool allowing for close monitoring and data collection Jacome s dedication showcases his commitment to protecting and restoring endangered species like the condor
The Bird King
A newborn condor chick named Karut Thunder in Quechua language successfully hatched after 57 days of incubation at Ecopark Buenos Aires Argentina the 16th of November 2018 Birds born in incubators in Ecopark Buenos Aires Argentina receive their food through a slit from a hand puppet that looks like male and female condors To preserve the instincts of the wild they are not come into contact with humans br While still juvenile these condors are liberated with a flock of other condors with no flighing experience in Pailem n Plateau in R o Negro Argentina in the program The Return of the Condor to the Sea by The Andean Condor Project
The Bird King
Santos Pastrana the chief of the Diaguita community in Taf del Valle emphasized that for their community all biodiversity is significant specifically the Condor as it symbolizes spirituality wisdom and courage The Condor represents the union of all sacred places in America and the unity of people harmony and continuity of life in its entirety br
the Bird King
W s w l Wirka a Pana N G Daniel Huircapan from the G n n a K na people is pictured with three stuffed condors displayed in a showcase at the Bernardino Rivadavia Natural Sciences Museum in Buenos Aires br br In the G n n a K na culture condors also known as Janana are sacred birds entrusted with carrying souls to the shores of the sea where they embark on a journey to the afterlife aboard whales br br The G n n a Yaj ch language was considered extinct in 1960 with the death of Chief Jos Mar a Cual With his passing it was believed that the G n n a K na people had vanished and that no one would continue with the language and traditional culture of this transhumant indigenous group However W s w l stood out in the recovery valorization and re-functionalization of his indigenous language removing the label of extinction imposed on it and on his Indigenous People
The Bird King
An adult condor and its juvenile counterpart soar through the skies unfettered in the breathtakingly beautiful Sierra de los Quinteros range located in La Rioja Argentina
