Sunrise in Peña Rajada and a condor soars over the horizon, the sun rises behind the mountains wrapped in a blanket of coppery explosions. In the background, a blue sky spreads, while the condor spreads its wings and glides at ground level showing its strength, identity and greatness.

It is then that patriotic symbolism makes sense. Silent, powerful and without limits, it lifts Bolivia on its wings. "We are free as free is the condor that travels swiftly through space" says one of the stanzas of the hymn to Tarija and it is when we find it incredible that this bird loaded with patriotism is on the list of endangered animals.

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is one of the most majestic and long-lived birds in the world, however, it has a low reproductive rate. It lays only one egg every two to three years, and reaches sexual maturity only at the age of eight, sharing it with only one mate for life. These factors, together with other human-related factors, have put this species at risk.

There are only 1,400 condors in Bolivia. Last year, the death of 35 condors in Laderas Norte exposed the precarious situation of the last remaining condors. For experts on the subject, the death of this number of birds meant the loss of 2% of their population.

In this context, Environmental Protection Tarija (Prometa), with the support of Piensa Verde, has proposed an important project to create a sanctuary for the reproduction and conservation of the Andean Condor in the Peña Rajada canyon.

The area is located in the municipality of Yunchará in the department of Tarija, at an altitude of 3,570 meters above sea level; it is 25 kilometers long and has depths of up to 900 meters.

It is an imposing geological formation of unique scenic beauty, making it a key site for the creation of the sanctuary. According to Prometa's executive director Rodrigo Ayala, "achieving this dream will allow the reproduction and conservation of the Andean Condor, but it will also make possible the preservation of other species such as pumas and vicuñas.

In addition, there are also fossil deposits in the area that, together with the native flora, constitute an important tourism potential for the families of the surrounding communities.

According to Ayala, the process of creating the protected area will have a highly participatory approach involving the local communities and authorities of the Yunchará Municipal Government.  

The expected results of the project focus on the creation of the wildlife sanctuary, which will be established by municipal autonomous law with the consent of the local population.

At the same time, legal guidelines will be developed to guide the management and administration of the sanctuary. Finally, a High Andean Wildlife Monitoring Network will link subnational protected areas with the National Protected Areas Service (SERNAP) through the Sama Reserve Platform.

Tarija takes flight

Piensa Verde is a multi-sectoral platform that seeks to articulate and channel economic support for the conservation of forests, species and protected areas in Bolivia. In this context, it invited organizations with ample experience and trajectory in the country to apply to the Call for Competitive Funds.

The Tarija project, created by Prometa, came out as a finalist and now must face a public voting phase. "Tarija takes flight" is the slogan of this noble campaign, which has just started and has gained a lot of local and national support.

A look at the mountain

There in the inaccessible altitude, a crevice opens between the rocks. A little piece of life summarized in a whitish-gray down stands weakly while its parents feed it easily digestible food, softened and warmed in the crop.

It will remain in the nest for more than a year and will take two years to reach full maturity, in the meantime its mother will jealously guard it as long as its life is not interrupted. If this happens, the baby will starve to death.   

After the death of the 35 condors in Tarija, it is highly probable that some chicks have died of hunger and starvation... There at the highest altitude, where the word solitude really is solitude, at 5,000 meters above sea level, waiting for their parents who never returned.

It is hard to imagine the pain and confusion these birds experience when they are chased, poisoned, shot and captured by humans. It is time to ask ourselves, "How long? 

Soon you will be able to support this noble project by going to piensaverdebolivia.org and voting for the "Peña Rajada Condor Sanctuary". Help us to conserve this important bird

Prometa, more than 30 years of service

Prometa has a long history of work in the municipality of Yunchará, has developed a strong work to protect vulnerable species such as the Jucumari Bear and the Andean Guanaco, and while supporting the management of the Cordillera de Sama Biological Reserve, has supported the creation of municipal protected areas in the municipalities of Villazón (58480 ha), Tupiza (36362 ha) and Cotagaita (8052 ha) in the southern altiplano.

Notes on the subject

Threat

Due to its low reproduction rate, the condor is an extremely vulnerable species to human activity, especially because some farmers consider it a threat. They are often killed with pesticides, the commercialization of which is prohibited.

Biocide

The death of 35 condors in Laderas Norte was classified as "biocide" and although the crime is typified in Law 700 for the defense of animals, so far the culprits have not been identified.

Impact

The condor biocide in Tarija is the largest in Bolivia and the second largest in the world. Another similar slaughter was recorded in 2018 in Mendoza Argentina.

Report written by: Danitza Pamela Montaño T