Andean Condor & King Vulture Conservation
Chaparri Ecological Reserve, Peru
Flocks of King Vultures and Andean Condors used to fly in large numbers over the Chaparri ravine; today they are only seen occasionally – endangered because of habitat loss, hunting, persecution and the absence of a steady supply of carrion (food). 2006 saw the start of this project which we continue to develop that will aim to encourage both Vultures and Condors to return to breed in the Chaparri reserve.
The Wildlife Protection Foundation & South Lakes Wild Animal Park fund a feeding station and provide food on a weekly basis to encourage Condors and Vultures back to the reserve. Initial feeback has been positive and Condors and Vultures are both starting to be seen more regularly.
As well as caring for wild Birds we also take in Birds that have been mistreated, with a view to rehabilitating them and returning them to the wild. We built a huge flight and release aviary (25m x 5m x 5m) with a 12 m high release tower (with the help of a group of Welsh students from Outlook Expeditions).
The first Birds into the aviary were 2 King Vultures and an immature male Andean Condor that was confiscated by INRENA after a Yawar fiesta (the illegal practice of tying a Condor to a Bulls back) and two King Vultures.
Once the birds have recuperated, can fly and feed they will be released back to the wild. The release tower also doubles as a holding area where Birds can be held in 2007 a juvenile female Andean Condor was received from El Huayco Breeding Centre was raised in the release tower where it was fed with a puppet glove.
In October 2007 after a period of rehabilitation, we successfully released the first King Vulture back to the wild. In 2008 a further Vulture was released to the reserve and is doing very well, our plan is to now take and release Condors.
In 2008 we funded the building of a new and improved aviary and developed a new breeding programme in zoos and we are hoping to take the young from these programmes and release them back to the wild.
Killa Tik one of the Vultures released back to the wild flying over the hills of Chaparri.
It is also important for the long term finances of the project to promote Bird watching tourism. Chaparri is a Bird watchers dream with over 194 (at the last count) different types of Birds species. With this in mind we build observation hides for researchers / photographers at the Condor feeding station and a more distant observation point for visitors.
The White winged Guan is a critically endangered Bird that is only found in a small area of dry forest in Lambayeque. It was thought to be extinct for a century until its rediscovery in 1977.
During the last few years White-winged Guans have been reintroduced to Chaparri and a small population has established itself which is now breeding successfully.
