Releasing Rehabilitated Condors in Patagonia

The condor enclosure at Patagonia National Park continues to play a central role in our Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) conservation efforts. Through our collaborative work with the Rehabilitation Center for Birds of Prey (CRAR), we rehabilitate, release, and track condors to better understand their behavior and habitat use after release. This initiative focuses on birds that are injured or born in captivity, giving them a second chance to thrive in the wild.

Key Activities & Highlights

• Safe transfer of condors from CRAR to Patagonia National Park, where they acclimate in the enclosure before release.

• Release of six condors since 2022, all equipped with GPS transmitters to monitor movements and adaptation.

• Close collaboration with CRAR ensures best practices in rehabilitation, care, and release.

2024 Releases – Preliminary Insights
In 2024, four condors—Chicoco, Bagual, Cuyén, and Eclipse—were released. GPS tracking has provided fascinating insights into their post-release behavior:

• Chicoco (wild-rescued): 22,544 km² (largest home range)

• Bagual (wild-rescued): 5,745 km²

• Cuyén (captive-bred): 3,544 km²

• Eclipse (captive-bred): 4,387 km²

Overall, the condors’ movements cover 208 km north-south and 227 km east-west, demonstrating the impressive mobility and adaptability of these magnificent birds. Click HERE for a larger version.

Visualizing Their Flight
We have created a flight range video (Feb 2024–June 2025) that visually tracks their movement across time and space. This involves integrating spatial and temporal datasets, a process that takes several hours of analysis, resulting in a powerful visual story of their journey. You can find the video HERE.

Looking Ahead
The next condor release is planned for December 2025, with three individuals currently being prepared at CRAR. Continued monitoring will provide further insights into habitat use and help guide conservation strategies in Patagonia.

Links:

• Condor's flight range video