Releasing Rehabilitated Condors in Patagonia

We are excited to share a new milestone in our Andean condor conservation work in Chilean Patagonia.

Carmen, Farellón, and Auquinco are three young Andean condors recently transferred from the CRAR (Raptor Rehabilitation Center) to Rewilding Chile’s acclimatization center in Patagonia National Park. This marks the final stage before their return to the wild, as they adapt to natural conditions prior to release.

After one month in the pre-release enclosure, the condors underwent a careful health assessment by veterinary teams from CRAR and Rewilding Chile. While their behavior and condition are monitored daily through camera traps and long-distance observation, these brief evaluations allow us to confirm their physical condition and readiness to continue the release process.

This step forward is possible thanks to strong collaboration between public and private partners. The transfer was supported by LATAM Airlines through its Avión Solidario program and carried out as part of Proyecto Manku, in collaboration with AvesChile, Filantropía Cortés Solari, SAG, CONAF, and the National Zoo.

What’s next?
Carmen, Farellón, and Auquinco will continue their acclimatization period under close monitoring. Once ready, they will be released into Patagonia National Park, helping restore a key species and strengthen one of the world’s most intact ecosystems.

Thank you for being part of this journey and for helping bring the Andean condor back to Patagonia’s skies.

Links:

• Condor's arrival to Patagonia National Park

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