At the wildlife conservation complex in Bioparque La Reserva, located in the Cundinamarca region — whose capital is Bogota — a few days ago, a small and promising Andean condor came into the world. The chick has been named Ambar.
This event carries special significance because it marks the third Andean condor born through artificial incubation in Colombia, following the successful hatchings of “Renacer” (2022) and “Anturi” (2024).
The chick is part of a joint program developed by the Bogota Mayor’s Office and the Government of the Department of Cundinamarca, aimed at strengthening the survival of this emblematic Andean bird, considered a symbol of identity and biodiversity in the region.
The Andean condor is the largest flying bird in the world, with adult specimens weighing more than 15 kilograms and boasting a wingspan of up to 3.3 meters. It inhabits the Andes mountain range and the Pacific coast in western South America.
Ambar, Colombia’s third Andean condor chick, hatches successfully
This new life began with an egg rescued from the Barranquilla Zoo, where the natural parents — Victoria and Simbad — were residing. After being transferred to Bioparque La Reserva, a delicate incubation process began, lasting approximately 60 days, until Ambar broke through the shell and entered the world.
This artificial incubation method reaffirms the commitment of conservation teams to overcoming the challenges faced by wild condor populations, such as hunting, poisoning, and habitat degradation. Through controlled intervention, the goal is to ensure the bird’s early survival and later introduce it gradually into its natural environment.
After hatching, Ambar is being cared for using the puppet-rearing method: Caretakers use puppets that mimic the head of an adult condor to feed the chick, preventing it from associating humans with food or direct care. This procedure is crucial to avoid imprinting — that is, the bird identifying with humans — and to help it recognize its own species as a social reference in the future.
This type of protocol — commonly used for endangered species of high ecological value — represents a qualitative leap in the management of specimens destined for reintroduction into the wild. In this context, Ambar represents not only a hatchling but also a commitment to restoring the species in its natural habitat.
The plan for Ambar includes a future transfer to the National Aviary of Colombia, on Baru Island, near Cartagena. There, the bird will be able to socialize with other condors and adapt to conditions closer to a wild environment before its eventual release into a suitable Andean mountain area.
This itinerary is part of a larger initiative: The “National Program for the Breeding and Reintroduction of the Andean Condor,” which aims to strengthen the wild population of this species in Colombia and, by extension, throughout the Andean mountain range. The hope is that Ambar, along with other specimens, will help reverse the population decline the species has faced in recent decades.
Beyond the animal: A symbol for the Andean Condor in Colombia
The Andean condor has been present in the cultural imagination of the peoples of the Andes for centuries. Its majestic presence — soaring over peaks and valleys — has been interpreted as a symbol of freedom, of connection with the sacred, of the Andean mountains themselves. In that sense, the birth of Ambar also acquires a symbolic dimension: That of reclaiming a part of nature that seemed to be slipping away.
In Bogota and Cundinamarca, the news has been received with enthusiasm by — among others — environmentalists, community organizations, and government entities. Not only because it increases the chances of conserving the species, but also because it reinforces awareness of the need to protect ecosystems, reduce threats such as livestock poisoning, and monitor the illegal trafficking of wildlife.
The birth of Ámbar, the third Andean condor artificially incubated in Bogotá, carries significance that goes far beyond the arrival of a new chick. Each specimen that manages to develop and be released represents a tangible reinforcement of the wild population of this species, whose survival faces considerable challenges in the Andean context. In conservation terms, it is a direct and measurable achievement: every bird that reaches maturity symbolizes a victory against the threat of extinction.
But this event also represents a technical and scientific advance. The incubation, rearing, and subsequent release procedures, perfected by specialists, make it possible to develop protocols that can be replicated or adapted to other geographies and species. Each accumulated experience provides valuable knowledge on how to ensure the viability of at-risk populations, thereby strengthening long-term conservation strategies.
Its figure stands as that of a living ambassador of Colombian biodiversity, capable of sparking social, academic, and governmental interest in protecting mountain ecosystems, paramos, and the natural habitats where the condor lives.
A regional symbol in South America
Majestic, solitary, and with imposing wings that can span more than 3 meters, the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) has soared for centuries over South American mountain peaks, becoming a symbol of freedom and spiritual power for the region’s Indigenous peoples. Found from Colombia to Patagonia, this scavenger bird is considered the largest flying bird on the planet.
In pre-Columbian cultures, the condor was seen as a messenger of the gods — a being capable of connecting the earthly world with the celestial one. Its image has endured in ceramics, textiles, and national coats of arms — such as those of Colombia, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador — where it represents sovereignty and hope.
It mainly inhabits high-mountain ecosystems, paramos, and rocky, hard-to-reach areas, where it takes advantage of thermal currents to glide with barely a flap of its wings. Its diet is based on carrion, making it an essential link in maintaining ecological balance by cleaning ecosystems of organic remains.
However, its survival is under threat. Habitat loss, lead poisoning, and conflicts with rural communities have drastically reduced its populations. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Andean condor is classified as “near threatened,” with alarmingly low numbers in several countries.
Conservation projects in Colombia, Argentina, and Peru aim to restore its populations through breeding and release programs, in the hope that this emblem of the Andes will continue to reign over the skies of South America.