This program is intended for the conservation of the Andean Condor within its distribution area, both historical and current, throughout the natural territory with the purpose of ensuring the long term viability of its populations.
The population decline of the Andean Condor generates serious problems, both ecological and cultural. The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus), a species endemic to South America, occupies a key place in the delicate ecosystem which, as a necrophagous and thanks to the power of its strong beak, helps keeping the ecosystems clean of possible sources of infestation. Its cultural role is irreplaceable, since for the native communities of the region where this emblematic bird is distributed, it has occupied a central place in their worldview for thousands of years.
On September 17th, 2021, seven (7) specimens were returned to the wild in the Province of Río Negro, being this the greates simoultanosly release of specimens of this species done in history. It is worth mentioning that two (2) of the released individuals came from rescue, while five (5) individuals were born under human care within the framework of the Species Conservation Program.
Through this Program we seek to:

Update information on the status of the threats faced by wild populations of the species, its biology and health.
Conserve the genetic diversity of the Andean condor.
Achieve greater visibility of the threats faced by the natural populations of the Andean condor and raise awareness of the impact that current society's lifestyle has on them.
Rescue and rehabilitate Andean condor individuals and carry out their subsequent release, whenever possible, in their natural environment of origin throughout the national territory, where such actions are necessary.
Restore Andean condor populations, through the release of individuals born under human care, in places where they are diminished, within the framework of reintroduction projects and reinforcement of populations throughout the historical and current distribution of the species.
The PCCA, under a network that brings together prestigious national and international, governmental and non-governmental institutions, was consolidated as a comprehensive conservation plan for the species, bringing together elements of ex situ and in situ conservation, articulated in 7 lines of action:
Genetic studies, cooperative management program and Latin American Studbook: We began by studying the condor´s genetics throughout its South American distribution. This work was consolidated with the creation of a cooperative management group for the species and the publication of the Latin American Studbook of the Andean Condor (Latin American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums [ALPZA], 2015), a valuable scientific document that brings together detailed information from more than 347 Andean condors. Its management would ensure 90% of the genetic diversity of the species for the next 127 years.
Center for Artificial Incubation and Parental Breeding, in human isolation: The PCCA has achieved the record of raising 70 Andean condor chicks, with a 94% survival rate. 97% of them were released in natural environments in South America.
Rescue, rehabilitation and breeding centers in human isolation: 350 condors have been cared for in the country. They are translocated to the rehabilitation and breeding centers in Human Isolation of the Program. There are three centers in Argentina: in Ecoparque of the City of Buenos Aires, a second one in the Temaikèn Biopark in Buenos Aires province, and a third one in "SOS Acción Salvaje" together with Fundación Cullunche, located in San Carlos, Mendoza province. In those places, Andean condors are rehabilitated and, depending on their recovery, they are released into natural environments or included in ex situ conservation programs when they may not return to the wild.
Satellite and monitoring program of Andean condors released in natural environments: 196 condors have been released in South America. Once in the wild, different tracking systems based on vinyl wing bands, radio telemetry and satellite transmission are used. In 1997, with the support of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, the PCCA pioneered the application of satellite technology to the monitoring of the species. This modern technology allows us to evaluate the released individuals’ adaptation and the use they make of the environment. It should be noted that, starting in 2003, a total of 57 condors were reintroduced on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia and thanks to this technology, added to intense work carried out from the Sierra Pailemán Field Base in the province of Rio Negro, it was possible to know that these individuals adapted to their old distribution area, matured and managed to raise their own chicks, returning the species to an area where it was declared extinct for more than 100 years.
National Strategy against the use of Toxic Baits: includes the delivery of intervention kits in cases of poisoning, which provides biosafety elements to the personnel involved in these cases, facilitates the taking of samples for toxicological studies and environmental sanitation. The Strategy also includes educational campaigns, surveys of rural residents, toxicological studies and a S.O.S condor program for emergency intervention, as well as training courses and participatory construction workshops, where all the actors involved seek educational, legal and management alternatives to address and find solutions to this serious problem.
Protected natural areas strategy: The PCCA has begun to establish collaboration agreements with the environmental authorities in the provinces where the species has a geographical distribution, so that the protected natural areas that the provinces have can work fully in a network of sanctuaries towards the conservation of the species. The province of Mendoza, based on its protected areas, has already added 15305 km² of surface area to this initiative. Jujuy, for its part, ordered the integration of another 11239 km² to the network. This strategy has the potential to conserve 13% of the species' distribution area in our country.
Education and dissemination programs: Education is essential to produce a cultural change in society. The PCCA has an educational program in rural schools and also in large cities, reaching thousands of students per year. It has been possible to publish abundant brochures, educational booklets, books, videos, documentaries and teaching material.