Andean condor Kurruf released into the wild in Sierra Grande

An adult Andean condor named Kurruf has been released back into its natural habitat in Sierra Grande, Argentina, following a successful rescue and rehabilitation process.

Kurruf was originally found in Tembrao on July 10 in a weakened state that prevented flight. The bird was rescued by field assistants from the Ecoparque de Buenos Aires and subsequently transferred to the Fundación Temaikèn Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. After receiving specialized veterinary care, the condor was deemed fit to return to the wild.

The release was marked by a traditional ceremony led by the Kintull Follil Mapuche community. Lonko Doris Cañumil noted that the bird's previous condition reflected the impact of human activity on the environment. During the ritual, community members sought permission from natural forces to reintroduce the specimen, emphasizing the condor's role in Mapuche cosmology as a connection to ancestral spirits and an indicator of environmental balance.