“Today [10NOV25], 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,” said Eduardo Pavéz, Director of Proyecto Manku.
The Chilean conservation initiative dedicated to the protection of the Andean Condor, recently collaborated with LATAM’s Solidarity Plane program to relocate three Andean condors from the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center (CRAR) in Talagante to Patagonia National Park in the Aysén region, Chile. LATAM Cargo carried the precious trio to Balmaceda, followed by a land transfer to the park. The birds will undergo a two-month acclimation before being released into the wild. Patagonia National Park is a strategic release site because it hosts one of the largest populations of Andean condors, with 70% of the species living between central Chile and Patagonia. Despite being the largest flying bird globally, the Andean condor faces a precarious conservation status with only about 1,500 to 2,000 remaining in the wild in Chile. Threats include habitat loss, lead poisoning, collisions with power lines, and insufficient food availability. It is nationally classified as “Near Threatened”, thus initiatives such as Proyecto Manku and Rewilding Chile focus on rescue, rehabilitation, and population restoration. LATAM’s own Solidarity Plane program, now over 14 years old, supports such social and environmental initiatives, offering free transport across South America. Last year, the program transported over 1,600 people and 400,000 kg of cargo free of charge in Chile, marking a significant commitment to regional biodiversity and community support.
Cristián Saucedo, Director of the Wildlife Program at Rewilding Chile, commented: “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.”
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.”
