Buenos Aires, September 21, 2018.- On Thursday, September 20, Aerolíneas Argentinas carried JANPI YAKU (meaningmedicinal water), an Andean Condor, to the city of San Salvador de Jujuy to be freed on Friday, September 21, in Cuesta de Lipán, located 90 km from the capital city of the province.
The she-bird was rescued in March 2018 in the city of Termas de Reyes and had lead slivers in its body due to a rifle shot. Initially, the Ministry of the Environment of Jujuy referred Janpi Yaku to the Wildlife Preservation Center of the province, where first aid was administered. Once stabilized, it was carried by Aerolíneas Argentinas to the Ecopark of Buenos Aires, within the framework of the Andean Condor Conservation Program.
The freeing of Janpi Yaku was supported by Fundación Bioparc, Grand Parc Puy du Fou, SOS Faune Sauvage and Beauval Nature from France, and the Secretariat of Biodiversity, the Ministry of the Environment of Jujuy, the Regional Directorate for the Northwest of Argentina under the National Parks Administration, the Ecopark of Buenos Aires, and the Secretariat of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Nation.
A touching ancestral ceremony took place when Janpi Yaku was returned to its natural environment at the sound ofcopleras with sound-boxes, which was attended by the Indigenous Peoples Secretary and the local native communities. A prayer was offered based on a request for harmony among all forms of life.
During 2017 and together with Fundación Bioandina Argentina, Aerolíneas Argentinas took part in the rehabilitation of 13 condors. During this year, it has already carried 7 animals. So far, 175 condors have been reintroduced throughout South America by the Binational Andean Condor Conservation Program.
The Andean Condor is Aerolíneas Argentinas’ symbol, which inspires us to continue bringing Argentine people together every day. Therefore, we are proud to be part of this freeing, so that the Condor may continue to guide us.