Development & Aid, Environment, Tierramerica - Ecobrief

Ecobreves – COLOMBIA: Condor Population on the Rise

BOGOTA, Dec 12 2005 (IPS) - The number of Andean condors (Vultur griphus) in Colombia has grown by 10 percent this year, under a repopulation program of the environment ministry.

The number of these enormous birds has grown to 160 with the release of nine condors from zoos into their naturla habitat in March and November.

But biologist Armando Leal, with the Species Repopulation Research Center, said in a conversation with Tierramérica that this program will not be enough to preserve the condor.

He says there needs to be an awareness campaign and community participation to ensure the protection of these birds not only at the repopulation sites but throughout their natural habitat in the Colombian Andes.