Human-caused and Yawar Fiesta–derived mortality of Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) in Peru

I report human-caused mortality of Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) in Peru and number of individuals used in Yawar Fiesta celebrations from data collected between 2000 and 2017. From 2014 to 2017, 8 (7 adults and 1 juvenile) Andean Condors were killed and 5 were permanently injured due to poisoning...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Wilson journal of ornithology Vol. 131; no. 4; pp. 833 - 838
Main Author Piana, Renzo P.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Fort Collins Wilson Ornithological Society 01.12.2019
Subjects
Adults
Age
Andean Condor
Apurimac
Beef cattle
Casualties
Females
Gymnogyps
Habitat loss
Males
Mortality
Murder
Peru
Poisoning
Population number
Population structure
Protection and preservation
Public officials
Researchers
Rites, ceremonies and celebrations
Shooting
Shootings
SHORT COMMUNICATIONS
Vultur gryphus
Vultures
Yawar Fiesta
Spain
Peru
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Summary:I report human-caused mortality of Andean Condors (Vultur gryphus) in Peru and number of individuals used in Yawar Fiesta celebrations from data collected between 2000 and 2017. From 2014 to 2017, 8 (7 adults and 1 juvenile) Andean Condors were killed and 5 were permanently injured due to poisoning and shooting in central and south Peru. Another 4 individuals were released after being rehabilitated. In all, 40 different individuals (14 males, 20 females, and 6 not determined) were used for Yawar Fiesta celebrations; 96% of these celebrations were held in the Apurimac department in southern Peru. One individual died and 3 were seriously injured after being trampled by bulls during celebrations. Direct and indirect poisoning was the highest cause of mortality in this country. However, given that Yawar Fiesta celebrations are not monitored by government officials and/or researchers, mortality of Andean Condors is higher than reported here. Yawar Fiesta celebrations might have altered the Andean Condor's population structure in the southern Peruvian Andes. In order to guarantee Andean Condor conservation in Peru, local and national government authorities should regulate and forbid the use of Andean Condors in Yawar Fiesta celebrations, while population size and structure of Andean Condors in Apurimac should be assessed.
ISSN:1559-4491
1938-5447
DOI:10.1676/1559-4491-131.4.833