Wayra, the new Andean condor in Colombia and Rafiki's sister, has been born; a third egg is incubating.
The Jaime Duque Park Foundation announced the birth of Wayra, an Andean condor chick whose name means "queen of the wind." She is the younger sister of Rafiki, the condor born in 2024 under the same conservation program. With this second birth, the initiative seeks to increase the chances of repopulating the Andes mountain range with a species listed as critically endangered in Colombia.
"Welcome Wayra, our Queen of the Wind! This September 20th, we welcome Rafiki's younger sister, a female Andean Condor, who we hope will represent freedom, strength, and flight in the vast sky that covers the Andes mountain range," the Jaime Duque Park Foundation wrote on Instagram this weekend.
Wayra, an Andean condor, was born at the Jaime Duque Park Foundation, Rafiki's sister. Photo: Jaime Duque Park Foundation
Wayra's birth was achieved through artificial incubation, a procedure that requires precision and consistency. "It's important to rotate the egg and weigh it at the same time every day. And these procedures are repeated daily for at least 60 days. Condors are one of the birds with a much longer incubation period than others," explained Fernando Castro, conservation coordinator of the Jaime Duque Park Foundation, in an interview with City TV.
This handling is necessary due to the fragility of the eggs and the high risk of loss in natural processes when the parents fail to successfully complete care.
A population at critical risk The Andean condor is considered a natural symbol of the Andes, but faces an alarming conservation situation . According to the Foundation, only between 150 and 250 individuals survive in the wild in Colombia. "Each condor today is extremely valuable, not only for the number of individuals, but also for the genetic contribution it can make to a population that, unfortunately, is currently—in Colombia—in critical danger of extinction," Castro said.
The program seeks to ensure that new births not only increase the number of individuals, but also enrich the genetic diversity of the species, which is key to its long-term survival.
Expectations of a third birth Wayra's case won't be the only one being monitored. Currently, a third egg remains in incubation. "There is a third egg from the pair, currently incubating, which we unfortunately tried to leave for the pair, but the male tried to break it. So we acted quickly and hope that, if all goes well, we will have another condor hatch in 40 days ," Castro explained.
If achieved, this would be the third consecutive birth in less than two years, representing a significant advance in conservation efforts.
The birth was achieved through artificial incubation after 60 days of controlled care. Photo: Jaime Duque Park Foundation
After birth, Wayra will remain under strict human care for at least eight months, during which time she will receive nutritional, medical, and behavioral monitoring.
Subsequently, it will take about two years before it can be released into a natural ecosystem. This process aims to ensure it develops the necessary skills, including flight and adaptation to the mountain environment.
The Foundation notes that this work not only strengthens the protection of the species, but also contributes to the ecological balance of the Andean moors and mountains, where the condor plays a fundamental role as a scavenger bird.
*With information from City TV
More news in EL TIEMPO *This content was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from City TV. It was also reviewed by the journalist and an editor.
eltiempo
