Scientists Confirm Plastic Is a New Threat to the Andean Condor in Peru

[Judi Lynn]

Researchers have found high levels of plastics in the diets and regurgitated pellets of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) in Peru.
April 10, 2023

By Yvette Sierra Praeli

Researchers have found high levels of plastics in the diets and regurgitated pellets of Andean condors (Vultur gryphus) in Peru.

The scientists conducted research in two protected areas — the San Fernando National Reserve, on the Peruvian coast; and in the buffer zone of the Pampa Galeras Barbara D’Achille National Reserve, in the Andean region of Ayacucho.

The results show that 100% of the samples collected in the marine-coastal zone and 85% of the samples from the Andes contained plastic.

While investigating the feeding interactions of the Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) in Peru, researcher Victor Gamarra-Toledo found something that concerned him — plasticMs featuring in the scavenger bird’s diet. And this was not an isolated finding. In almost all samples analyzed, pieces of plastic made up part of the food the condors had eaten..

“We were very surprised to find plastic in so many samples. When we finished our field work, we began looking at the birds’ pellets — regurgitated balls that are made up of undigested matter — and we were surprised to find an excessive amount of plastic,” says Gamarra-Toledo, a researcher in ornithology at the Natural History Museum of Peru’s National University of San Agustín de Arequipa.

Gamarra-Toledo also explains that such a high level of microplastics and plastics found in Andean condor populations is barely seen in any other condor group in South America. Only one study, published in Chile, looked at the presence of plastic in the food of condors living near a garbage dump — but the populations studied by Gamarra-Toledo live in protected areas.

More:
https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/scientists-confirm-plastic-is-a-new-threat-to-the-andean-condor-in-peru/