The bird that is national symbol and an endangered species.
News Colombia.
In an unprecedented event for the conservation of wildlife in Colombia, Wayra was born, a condor breeding of the Andes obtained by artificial incubation. The announcement was made by the Jaime Duque Park Foundation, which leads the conservation program of this emblematic species for more than a decade. Wayra becomes the second copy of its species that is born under this method in the country, after Rafiki, who was born in 2023.
See: In “critical danger of extinction” they declared the Andean Condor in Colombia
The incubation process was complex and required highly specialized management. The egg was subjected to strict temperature, humidity, rotation and constant monitoring of the embryo. In addition, any type of visual or auditory contact with humans was avoided, to preserve the natural behavior of the condor and avoid the phenomenon of “imprinting”, which could hinder its future adaptation to wildlife.
More than 600 people among veterinarians, biologists, caregivers and experts participated in the different stages of this birth, which represents a concrete hope for a species cataloged in critical danger of extinction in Colombia. Currently, it is estimated that in the country they survive only between 150 and 250 wild condors, threatened by loss of habitat, poisoning and the low reproductive rate that characterizes this bird.
The arrival of Wayra has been with enthusiasm in the scientific community, since it represents a new step towards reproduction and eventual controlled liberation of condors in ecosystems where its presence has decreased or disappeared. His brother Rafiki, for example, is in preparation to be released in 2026 in the lunch of lunch, in Santander, as part of a pilot repopulation project.
The birth of Wayra is not only a technical success, but also a symbol of the institutional commitment to the conservation of threatened species. In addition to its ecological value, this condor represents an opportunity to sensitize society about the importance of protecting Andean ecosystems and respecting the biodiversity that inhabits them.
With these advances, Colombia is positioned as a regional reference in ex situ conservation of the condor of the Andes, an emblematic species not only for the country, but for all of South America. The articulated work between foundations, environmental and scientific authorities shows that with will and knowledge it is possible to reverse the course towards extinction and open path to hope.
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