Nesting high upon cliff faces makes it easy for them to take off and soar over the land below scanning for food for hours.
One of the greatest threats to the Andean condor today is poisoning. As the domestication of livestock continues to grow throughout South America, more and more ranchers are now using poisoned bait to kill predators (like foxes, pumas and Andean condors), which they fear could harm or prey on their livestock.
In fact, the domestication of livestock has become a bit of a double-edged sword for the Andean condor. As more farmers clear land to make room for their animals to graze, the natural ecosystems of the Andes are being forever altered. As a result, the populations of Andean condors’ natural prey are in decline in some places.
Lastly, with human growth and development throughout the region, Andean condors now also face the risk of electrocution on power cables. As of today, Andean condors are classified as “threatened,” and scientists are working on reintroduction programs to help increase populations
