Perceptions of the Andean condor in the urban population of Ecuador

Abstract

The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) is an emblematic species of the Andes. It is the largest vulture in the world, and it is at the top of the food chain. His image has been present in the memorial of cultures, festivals and beliefs of Andean people and persists until now, as current symbolism of the Andean cultures. In order to evaluate the general data of the Andean condor based on urban population perspectives, surveys were used and distributed over the internet in Ecuador under a socioeconomic classification. The information was analyzed using Chi2 tests and generalized linear models. 726 responses were obtained from people between 18 and 71 years old. All the models generated were reliable. The results show that general information such as recognizing the species, knowing its diet and perceiving that it is an endangered species, is known by the urban population. Unknown aspects of the Andean condor are its size, flight distance and the number of eggs per clutch. The Andean condor has a positive perception as a vulture, and a low percentage considers it a harmful species capable of preying live animals. Variables such as gender, outdoor activities and age proved gaps in the natural history of the Andean condor in some social spaces. We suggest as an alternative to completely cover the gaps, environmental education actions directed to these social spaces.