Vulnerable Andean Condors In Steep Decline

Despite being an iconic species and the national bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador, the Andean condor ( Vultur gryphus ) is moving fast toward extinction. Its world population, which probably does not exceed 6700 individuals ([ 1 ][1], [ 2 ][2]), is worryingly declining throughout its range, particularly due to massive poisoning events ([ 1 ][1]) to which the species is especially prone because of its highly gregarious behavior at carcasses ([ 3 ][3]). In 2018, 34 individuals in western Argentina died after consuming a deliberately poisoned carcass placed to eliminate mammals perceived as livestock predators ([ 4 ][4]). On 6 February, another 34 condors died in southern Bolivia, in similar conditions ([ 5 ][5]). Because of events like these, the Andean condor was recently uplisted to a designation of globally Vulnerable ([ 1 ][1]).\n\nPoisoning is the most grievous threat to the Andean condor, with incidents reported across the Andes ([ 1 ][1], [ 6 ][6]), but the species faces other challenges as well. Condors have fallen victim to lead intoxication, illegal capture, and shooting ([ 6 ][6]). They compete with other scavenger birds ([ 7 ][7]) and with feral and free-roaming domestic dogs for carrion resources ([ 5 ][5]). Complicating conservation efforts, these hazards vary regionally in nature and intensity ([ 6 ][6]).\n\nTo address the roots of the complex threats faced by Andean condors, the conservation response must leverage international and multi-sectoral collaboration. Those working 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, national, and international levels can we halt the Andean condor\u0027s decline ([ 2 ][2]).\n\n1. [↵][8]The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, “Andean Condor: Vultur gryphus” (2020); [www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697641/181325230][9].\n \n\n2. [↵][10]1. R. Wallace et al\n ., Saving the Symbol of the Andes: A Range Wide Conservation Priority Setting Exercise for the Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) (Wildlife Conservation Society, La Paz, Bolivia, 2020); .\n \n\n3. [↵][11]1. D. Mendez, 2. P. P. Olea, 3. J. H. Sarasola, 4. F. H. Vargas\n , J. Raptor Res. 55, 10.3356/JRR-20-26 (2021).\n \n\n4. [↵][12]1. P. A. E. Alarcon, 2. S. A. Lambertucci\n , Science 360, 612 (2018).\n [OpenUrl][13][FREE Full Text][14]\n\n5. [↵][15]1. Y. Sierra Praeli\n , “Amenaza latente: 34 condores mueren envenenados en Bolivia” (2021); [in Spanish].\n \n\n6. [↵][16]1. P. I. Plaza, 2. S. A. Lambertucci\n , Biol. Conserv. 251, 108782 (2020).\n [OpenUrl][17]\n\n7. [↵][18]1. F. Saenz-Jimenez, 2. O. Rojas-Soto, 3. J. Perez-Torres, 4. J. Shepard\n , Bird Conserv. Int. 10.1017/S0959270920000271 (2020).\n\n [1]: #ref-1\n [2]: #ref-2\n [3]: #ref-3\n [4]: #ref-4\n [5]: #ref-5\n [6]: #ref-6\n [7]: #ref-7\n [8]: #xref-ref-1-1 \"View reference 1 in text\"\n [9]: http://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697641/181325230\n [10]: #xref-ref-2-1 \"View reference 2 in text\"\n [11]: #xref-ref-3-1 \"View reference 3 in text\"\n [12]: #xref-ref-4-1 \"View reference 4 in text\"\n [13]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DScience%26rft.stitle%253DScience%26rft.aulast%253DAlarcon%26rft.auinit1%253DP.%2BA.%2BE.%26rft.volume%253D360%26rft.issue%253D6389%26rft.spage%253D612%26rft.epage%253D612%26rft.atitle%253DPesticides%2Bthwart%2Bcondor%2Bconservation%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.1126%252Fscience.aat6039%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F29748275%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx\n [14]: /lookup/ijlink/YTozOntzOjQ6InBhdGgiO3M6MTQ6Ii9sb29rdXAvaWpsaW5rIjtzOjU6InF1ZXJ5IjthOjQ6e3M6ODoibGlua1R5cGUiO3M6NDoiRlVMTCI7czoxMToiam91cm5hbENvZGUiO3M6Mzoic2NpIjtzOjU6InJlc2lkIjtzOjE0OiIzNjAvNjM4OS82MTItYSI7czo0OiJhdG9tIjtzOjI1OiIvc2NpLzM3MS82NTM2LzEzMTkuMS5hdG9tIjt9czo4OiJmcmFnbWVudCI7czowOiIiO30=\n [15]: #xref-ref-5-1 \"View reference 5 in text\"\n [16]: #xref-ref-6-1 \"View reference 6 in text\"\n [17]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DBiol.%2BConserv.%26rft.volume%253D251%26rft.spage%253D108782%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx\n [18]: #xref-ref-7-1 \"View reference 7 in text\"