Vulture and Condor Experts Converge in Bolivia
Posted on in In the Field by Natividad Aguilera Alcalá, Fall 2023 Conservation Leadership Trainee
In March 2025, the 5th International Congress of the Andean Condor and 1st Vultures of the Americas Symposium (5th ICAC – 1st VAS) took place in Sucre, Bolivia. Every three years, biologists, veterinarians, scientific researchers, and environmental managers from all the countries of the American continent come together to share their progress and discuss common issues on the conservation of the Andean condor. This year, the goal of the meeting was expanded, inviting experts on other scavenger species of the American continent to join the event. Hawk Mountain has been studying and promoting the conservation of scavenger birds worldwide for years, and in an event of these features, its participation could not be missed.
Following the example of the Multi-species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures, the 1st Vulture of Americas Symposium aimed to draw up a common action plan encompassing scavenger bird conservation actions in the countries of the Americas on a transboundary basis. For 5 days, more than 60 talks were presented, working groups were organized, and several workshops were held, covering a wide variety of topics that were relevant to all participants, such as wildlife legislation, environmental crimes such as poisoning and illegal hunting of vultures and condors for ancestral rites, and traditional medicine. Other topics discussed included pollution from toxic elements such as lead, planning of wind farms that do not pose a threat to wild birds, conflicts with feral species, captive breeding programs for population reinforcement, conflicts between scavengers and humans, One Health, and presentation of the latest research on the ecology of scavenger birds. In addition, an International Statement for the Conservation of the Andean Condor was drafted to promote the involvement of governments in the protection and conservation of this emblematic species.
Thanks to the scientific collaboration that I have been developing with HMS since my Conservation Leadership Traineeship, I had the opportunity to attend the conference and present the results of one of the long-term projects developed by Hawk Mountain, the roadside surveys of vultures in the Americas. A project that began in 2005, with the aim of surveying vulture populations throughout their distribution range in order to detect increases or declines in their populations. After my talk, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that among the attendees were two collaborators who had participated in the surveys some years ago, Luis Saavedra, who conducted the surveys in Venezuela, and Francisco Danés, who conducted the surveys in Uruguay. Both were very delighted to see the results of their collaboration with HMS.
This event was organized by former Conservation Science trainees Diego Méndez and Adrián Naveda. The next meeting will take place in Chile in 2028!
Learn more about the congress at https://vcongresocondor.com/