Meet Rafiki: Colombia's first artificially-bred condor in 20 years - Video
Colombia has successfully bred an Andean condor through artificial incubation for the first time in 20 years.
The condor, named Rafiki, was born at the Jaime Duque Park in Bogotá, marking a significant milestone in efforts to preserve this critically endangered species.
Rafiki's birth is the result of over a decade of dedicated research and effort by the Jaime Duque Foundation. The Andean condor, a national symbol of Colombia, has faced severe population declines due to habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting.
With only about 63 condors left in the wild in Colombia, Rafiki's arrival brings renewed hope for the species' survival.
The process of breeding Rafiki was not without its challenges. The artificial incubation was initiated after the male condor's partner accidentally broke the first egg. The team at Jaime Duque Park carefully monitored the second egg, ensuring optimal conditions for its development.
On July 29, 2024, Rafiki hatched, becoming a foundation of success for conservationists.
"The condor is the scavenger that helps us to clean and take care of water sources and helps us to prevent diseases from spreading through water and soil. That is the great importance not only of the condor but of all scavengers. To lose this bird that cleans, that takes care of the moors where water is born, is to lose everything, it is to lose a great link in the ecosystem," Fernando Castro, a zootechnician and coordinator in conservation and research of Jaime Duque Park told AFP.
