Vulnerable Andean condor in steep decline

MENDEZ, D.; PEREZ OLEA, P.; SARASOLA, J.H.; VARGAS, H. ; ASTORE, V.; ESCOBAR-GIMPELL, V.; ESTRADA-PACHECO, R.; GORDILLO, S.; JÁCOME, L. ; KHON-ANDRADE, S.; KUSCH, A.; NAVEDA-RODRIGUEZ, A.; NARVAEZ, F.; PARRADO-VARGAS, M.A.; PIANA, R.P.; RESTREPO-CARDONA, J.S.; WALLACE, R.

SCIENCE

AMER ASSOC ADVANCEMENT SCIENCE

Año: 2021 vol. 371

0036-8075

Despite being an iconic species and the na-tional bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is moving fast toward extinction. Its world pop-ulation, which probably does not exceed 6700 individuals, is worryingly declining throughout its range, particularly due to massive poisoning events to which the species is especially prone because of its high-ly gregarious behavior at carcasses. In 2018, 34 individuals in west Argentina died after consuming a deliberately poisoned car-cass placed to eliminate mammals perceived as livestock predators. On 6 February, an-other 34 condors died in south Bolivia, in similar conditions. Because of events like these, the Andean condor was recently up-listed to a designation of globally Vulnerable. Poisoning is the most grievous threat to the Andean condor, with incidents reported across the Andes, but the species faces other challenges as well. Condors have fallen victim to lead intoxication, illegal capture, and shooting. They compete with other scavenger birds and with feral and free-roaming domestic dogs for carrion resources. Complicating conservation efforts, these hazards vary regionally in nature and intensi-ty. To address the roots of the complex threats faced by Andean condors, the conser-vation response must leverage international and multi-sectoral collaboration. Those work-ing toward protecting the species must base all actions on scientific evidence and assess each step taken to evaluate its effectiveness. Only with coordinated efforts at local, nation-al, and international levels, can we halt the Andean condor?s decline.