• Natural History
• Care Manual
• SSP
• Organizations

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​RANGE AND DISTRIBUTION

ANDES, FROM VENEZUELA TO TIERRA DEL FUEGO, DESCENDING TO SEA LEVEL IN PERU AND CHILE.  MOST OFTEN SEEN IN PERU, CHILE, AND ARGENTINA.

​HABITAT

• FOUND MOSTLY IN HIGH MOUNTAINS AND ALPINE REGIONS. 
• RARELY FOUND IN FORESTED AREAS.
• LOWLAND DESERT REGIONS IN PERU AND CHILE.
• GRASSLAND PLAINS IN ARGENTINA, SOUTH OF RIO NEGRO.
• STAYS AWAY FROM HUMAN DISTURBANCES.

Diet

• SCAVENGER THAT FEEDS ON CARRION OF LARGE AND MEDIUM-SIZED MAMMALS (GUANACOS, LIVESTOCK, MARINE​ MAMMALS ON THE COAST).
• SOME SMALLER FOOD ITEMS LIKE SHOREBIRD EGGS.
• GREGARIOUS DURING FORAGING AND FEEDING.

​REPRODUCTION

• NEST (SCRAPE) IN SHALLOW CAVES ON CLIFF LEDGES.
• LAY 1 EGG – BOTH PARENTS INCUBATE EGG 56-62 DAYS.
• CHICK FULLY FEATHERED AND CAN FLY AT 6 MONTHS.
• BOTH PARENTS RESPONSIBLE FOR PARENTAL CARE, WHICH CONTINUES FOR OVER 1 YEAR.
• SEXUALLY MATURE ONCE THEY ATTAIN ADULT PLUMAGE (5-8 YEARS OLD OR LATER), BUT CAN BE DELAYED.
• TYPICALLY BREEDS IN ALTERNATE YEARS DUE TO EXTENDED PARENTAL CARE OF OFFSPRING.
• CAN LAY A REPLACEMENT EGG 4-6 WEEKS AFTER LOSS OF FIRST EGG.

​CHARACTERISTICS

• ONLY AMERICAN VULTURE TO SHOW SEXUAL DIMORPHISM.
• MALE HAS COMB/CARUNCLE, LARGE NECK WATTLE, AND YELLOW EYES.
• FEMALE LACKS COMB/WATTLE, AND HAS RED EYES.
• CARUNCLE, PLUMAGE, ETC. USED IN COURTSHIP DISPLAY.
• PLUMAGE BLACK WITH GRAYISH WHITE SECONDARY FEATHERS​ AND COVERTS.
• WHITE NECK RUFFLE ONLY APPEARS IN ADULTS.
• BARE SKIN ON HEAD.
• JUVENILE IS BROWN WITH DARK BARE SKIN – DEVELOPS ADULT PLUMAGE AFTER 5-8 YEARS.
• ADULT MALE 24-33 LB; ADULT FEMALE 17-24 LB.
• WINGSPAN UP TO 126 IN (10.5 FT) – LARGEST FLYING BIRD IN SOUTH AMERICA.
• BODY LENGTH 39-51 IN (3.25 -4.25 FT).
• LIVES UP TO 70 YEARS IN ZOOS, 50-60 YEARS IN WILD.

STATUS

• CITES I SINCE 1975.
• USFWS ENDANGERED SINCE 1970.
• IUCN NEAR THREATENED SINCE 2001.
• THREATENED OVER MOST OF RANGE – MOSTLY IN NORTHERN RANGE (VENEZUELA AND COLOMBIA).
• RITUAL USE IN LOCAL CULTURES AND PERSECUTION DUE TO PERCEIVED THREAT TO LIVESTOCK.
• INCREASE IN HUMAN POPULATION HAS DECREASED CONDOR HABITAT AND PREY BASE.
• LOW REPRODUCTIVE RATE (REPRODUCE LATE IN LIFE AND EVERY OTHER YEAR) AND LONG LIFESPAN MAKES CONDORS VULNERABLE TO THREATS.
• HUMAN INTERVENTION NEEDED FOR POPULATION RECOVERY.
• VERY HARDY IN ZOOLOGICAL FACILITIES AND IS A SELF-SUSTAINING POPULATION.
• REINTRODUCTION IN COLUMBIA AND PREVIOUSLY
• VENEZUELA ARE SHOWING PROMISE AT RESTORING WILD POPULATIONS.

For more information, contact Chriss Kmiecik - Andean Condor SSP Education Liason: [email protected]

Andean Condor Care Manual

Care Manual
​Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)

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Officers

Name

Organization

Position

Michael Mace  

San Diego Zoo Safari Park 

SSP Program Leader ​​

​John Azua 

​Denver Zoo

​​SSP Vice Program Leader 

​​Ron Webb 

​​​San Diego Zoo Safari Park 

​Studbook Program Leader  

​​Dr. Nadine Lamberski, DVM 

​San Diego Zoo Safari Park 

​Veterinary 

​Dr. Bruce Rideout 

​​​San Diego Zoo 

​​​​Pathology 

Chriss Kmiecik ​

​Cleveland Metroparks Zoo ​

Education Advisor

Organizations

In 2012, the SSP began working with Asociacion Colobiana De Parques Zoologicos Y Arcuarios (ACOPAZOA) to assist them in establishing Andean condors in Colombian zoos that, in the future, would produce offspring for release into the wild.