Inglés
THE ANDEAN
CONDOR IN DANGER
OF EXTINCTION
2024
HABITAT AND FOOD
For this reason, its head and neck are devoid of
feathers, to prevent bacteria and fungi from decaying
meat from causing disease. They sometimes hunt small
species such as rabbits and rodents. Their short beak is
designed to tear decaying meat, so they can hardly
hunt large animals as is commonly believed.
The condor is an exclusively scavenger animal, feeding
on all types of large dead animals, such as: llamas,
alpacas, deer, cows.
The Andean condor inhabits coastal mountains and
mountainous habitat types in the Andes Mountains of
South America. This species has been located at
altitudes of up to 5,500 meters.
It prefers open space areas, which helps it to detect
food. The Andean condor rests on cliffs, rocky ledges
or in small caves, where it also nests. Each clutch
includes a single white egg that is incubated by both
sexes. It nests only once a year.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
ANDEAN CONDOR
The Andean condor has wide legs, with short, slightly
curved nails. The legs are adapted for walking and
skillfully handling the carrion on which they feed.
The plumage of the young specimens is brown; during
successive feather molts, the adult Andean condor
acquires the characteristic black plumage that
characterizes it. It wears a striking white feather collar
around its neck.
The Andean condor can reach a height of 1.4 meters
and a wingspan of almost 3 meters, weighing up to 15
kg in males and 11 kg in females.
Because of its size, wingspan and weight, it is
considered the largest flying bird on the planet.
The skin of the head has a slight reddish tone and a
hooked beak with very sharp edges.
Males have a crest and folds on the face and neck that
increase in size as the condor ages. The females,
although lacking the crest that distinguishes the males,
do have the folds on their face and neck. Another
distinctive feature is that females are smaller than
males. The condor can live up to 60 years
approximately, depending on the environment where it
develops.
ECOLOGICAL ROLE AND THREATS
The Andean condor plays an important ecological role
as a scavenger because it accelerates the
decomposition process of dead animals, thus reducing
the risk of diseases associated with the slow
putrefaction of animals. It is also of evolutionary
importance because it is one of the seven species of
American vulture known for its great sense of smell. It
is one of the only predators that can break the hard
skin of guanacos with its beak. It flies thanks to the
thermal rise, which helps it to see the carrion from very
high up and reach it without wasting energy.
The condor has been threatened by hunting,
deforestation, air, water and food pollution, and the
severe reduction of its food source (dead animals).
Andean condor populations have suffered an alarming
decline in recent decades throughout the Andes.
Repopulation projects are currently underway in areas
historically inhabited by condors and from which they
were extirpated in the 20th century. The planet is in
danger of losing a species of bird in danger of
extinction without equal and the responsibility of this
and of saving it is of the Man.
Integrantes:
María Estefani Castillo Fernández
Darley Naucar Valderrama
Max Lenin Cabanillas
