• Three condors that were initially treated at the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center (CRAR) in Talagante have now been transported to Balmaceda, where they will be released into their natural habitat in Patagonia National Park.

Chile, November 10— In an effort to contribute to the conservation of Chile’s native species, Proyecto Manku and LATAM’s Solidarity Plane program completed the transfer of three condors on Monday. The birds will now be reintroduced into a natural environment in Patagonia National Park, located in the Aysén region.

The condors first underwent a rehabilitation process at the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center (CRAR) in Talagante, in the Metropolitan Region. Their relocation to Balmaceda was carried out by LATAM Cargo Group, after which they were transported by land to Patagonia National Park. There, they will go through a two-month acclimatization period before being released. The choice of this site is not random: one of the main condor populations is found between central Chile and Patagonia, where 70% of the species’ population lives.

To ensure the success of the air transport, LATAM Cargo Group coordinated efforts between multiple teams with extensive experience handling animals and delicate species. Every step of the process was carefully planned to safeguard the birds’ welfare and safety throughout the journey, reflecting the group’s commitment to the highest standards of care and quality in this type of operation.

“Releasing condors in the far south is highly beneficial, as they have abundant food sources and it allows us to study their ecology in an almost pristine environment. In central Chile, which is more densely populated, we continue to rehabilitate and monitor them as well. Understanding these differences is key to addressing the challenges of their conservation,” said Cristián Saucedo, Director of the Wildlife Program at Rewilding Chile.

Constanza Pizarro, Corporate Communications Manager at LATAM Airlines Group, added: “Our collaboration with Proyecto Manku reinforces the purpose of Solidarity Plane: using LATAM’s connectivity to generate positive impact in the regions where we operate. Supporting the transport of native wildlife during rehabilitation—such as these condors—is a tangible way to contribute to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem balance in Chile.”

The condor is an emblematic species of Andean ecosystems and, despite being the largest flying bird in the world, currently faces a worrying conservation outlook.

In Chile, it is estimated that only 1,500 to 2,000 individuals remain in the wild, primarily in mountainous areas from Arica to Magallanes. However, the population has declined due to habitat loss, lead poisoning, collisions with power lines, and food scarcity. The species is currently classified as “Near Threatened” at the national level by the Ministry of the Environment, prompting numerous rescue, rehabilitation, and release initiatives—such as Proyecto Manku and the efforts of Rewilding Chile—aimed at restoring and maintaining healthy populations in the wild.

“Today, Carmen, Farellón, and Auquinco—the three Andean condors—departed from CRAR in Talagante on their way to Patagonia National Park in the Aysén region. Initiatives of this magnitude, and with such important objectives as conserving our native species, require collaborative effort. That’s why we are so grateful to now have the support of LATAM’s Solidarity Plane,” emphasized Eduardo Pavéz, Director of Proyecto Manku.

Francisca Cortés Solari, Executive President of Cortés Solari Philanthropy, highlighted that Proyecto Manku demonstrates how collaboration between science, the State, and civil society can bring hope to biodiversity. “This new transfer to Patagonia marks an important milestone for the project, born in the Likandes Elemental Reserve as part of the FCS Effective Conservation Model. Science, commitment, and collaboration make it possible to restore ecosystems and build a sustainable future,” she said.

About the Solidarity Plane Program

For more than 14 years, through partnerships with various foundations and institutions, LATAM Group’s Solidarity Plane program has supported communities by providing its passenger and cargo transport capacity and connectivity free of charge throughout South America to assist efforts related to health, the environment, and natural disasters.

The program currently has nearly 50 partnerships across Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil. In Chile, it works with organizations such as Teletón, Coaniquem, Firefighters of Chile, DKMS, and the Ministry of Health, among others.

In 2024 alone, the program transported 1,655 people and more than 400,000 kilograms of cargo free of charge in Chile.

Caption: Carmen, Farellón, and Auquinco being loaded into the aircraft’s belly cargo hold en route to their final destination: Balmaceda. Photo credit: LATAM

Caption: One of the three condors in Patagonia National Park, in the Aysén region. Photo credit: Franco Dávico for Rewilding Chile.