Valentino: The Condor that Could
Only nine rehabilitated condors have ever been able to return to their natural habitat. Valentino is now one of them, and his amazing story is part of larger National Aviary Condor Conservation efforts at home and abroad.
April has been a busy month in Andean Condor developments. In early April 2025, we shared the exciting arrival of “New Kid On The Block,” Chavín (chuh-veen) to our Condor Court habitat, as part of an Association of Zoos and Aquariums-led Species Survival Plan® (SSP). Hailing from the Brandywine Zoo in Delaware, this 38-year-old male is a potential new mate for our resident female, Lianni, who turned 41 on April 23!
SSP®s work to protect Endangered species and ensure their self-sustaining survival through accredited breeding programs, natural habitat preservation, and community education. By participating in SSP®s, the National Aviary plays an active role in saving some of the world’s most vulnerable species. But our Andean Condor conservation efforts extend far beyond the Pittsburgh region.
The National Aviary also partners with our Ecuadorian-based sister zoo, Bioparque Amaru, to provide critical veterinary training, on-the-ground support, and research assistance to help conserve their wild Andean Condor population…including Valentino.
Let’s rewind this condor chronology to February 14, 2025, when Bioparque Amaru researchers out in the wild discovered an injured Andean Condor on the banks of the Yanuncay River. Fewer than 150 wild Andean Condors currently survive in Ecuador…and this one’s future was looking grim. The bird had been shot five times, and while still alive, these injuries rendered him unable to fly. After immediately rescuing this magnificent male, dubbed Valentino, Amaru reached out to the Aviary for veterinary advice from our Senior Director of Zoological Advancement & Avian Medicine, Dr. Pilar Fish, DVM, and our Senior Director of Animal Care & Conservation Programs, Kurt Hundgen. Together, Dr. Fish and Hundgen would help facilitate what came next for Valentino.
For several weeks, Amaru’s staff members, led by Dr. Rubi Carpio, who trained alongside Dr. Fish at the National Aviary in 2024, worked diligently to rehabilitate this male in Amaru’s vet hospital, which the National Aviary helped build. She, alongside her care team, implemented the techniques she learned and honed at the Aviary.
After two months of recovery efforts, which included:
- Five blood chemistries and complete blood counts
- Two lead analyses
- One CT scan
- An X-ray
- An ophthalmologic (or eye) exam
- Six physical evaluations
- More than 210 hours of specialized care
The prognosis was positive: Valentino was fit to be discharged and prepared for release back into the wild.
Throughout his inspiring rehabilitation, Valentino’s story found a following in the Ecuadorian community from which he came. The amazing tale of his journey to recovery has helped to educate locals about this Critically Endangered vulture species that has been mistakenly labeled as a threat to livestock and other living animals.
Under the coordination of the Andean Condor Foundation and the Amaru Foundation, specialists from both organizations carefully selected Valentino’s release site, ensuring optimal conditions for his return to the wild, in strict compliance with the technical protocols required by the National Environmental Authority.
On April 21, specialists from the Andean Condor Foundation placed a satellite tracker and an easily identifiable “23” wing band on Valentino (as the twenty-third Andean Condor to be tagged in Ecuador). The National Aviary is beyond honored to have contributed to this ground-breaking accomplishment by donating this monitoring equipment to Amaru. This device allows for the collection of near-real-time satellite data on Valentino’s movements, resting areas, feeding, and eventual nesting, providing critical data for the conservation of the species.
Valentino’s long-term remote monitoring will be carried out by the Andean Condor Foundation, ensuring continuous technical oversight of his reintroduction into the wild.
On April 22 (just in time for Earth Day), at around 10 am GMT-5, Valentino was successfully released in Cajas National Park, a protected land area that will promote his survival and adaptation. Valentino’s release location is also incredibly important as it will allow the tracker to share previously uncollected data from a southern section of Ecuador directly with researchers.
The National Aviary is a proud supporter of Bioparque Amaru and is incredibly grateful to have contributed to Valentino’s new life in the wild. Vuela Valentino Vuela!
Bioparque Amaru PartnershipHeader photo courtesy of INHAUS MEDIA