Last Saturday, Josh and I visited the animal sanctuary in Mallasa, which is about a 30-minute walk from the Green House here at Up Close Bolivia. All of the animals at the sanctuary have either suffered an injury in the wild or have been rescued from abusive situations, such as circuses, the exotic pet trade and medical research labs. Wildlife sanctuaries like the one here in Mallasa are safe places where these animals can live out the rest of their lives in peace. What’s more, the sanctuary in Mallasa runs a special enrichment program that works to improve the quality of life for each animal, while also promoting conservation and environmental education among the local community. It is one of the many projects that volunteers here at Up Close Bolivia help to support. Josh and I had so much fun wandering around the sanctuary and seeing all types of animals—from llamas and alpacas, to pumas, boas and bears! But perhaps the coolest animal of all was the national bird of Bolivia: the Andean condor.
Andean condors are enormous birds. In fact, they are one of the largest species of birds in the world that is able to fly. They can reach up to four feet in height, weigh up to 33 pounds and have a wingspan of up to 10.5 feet. Andean condors are mostly black, with some white markings on their wings and around their necks.
