People walked up a hill in Argentina’s southern Patagonia region with a singular mission: free two Andean condors that had been born in captivity.⁠ ⁠ Huasi, meaning home in Quechua, seemed born for this moment. As soon as the cage opened, he spread his wings and took off without a moment’s hesitation. Yastay, meaning god that is protector of birds, appeared cautious, uncertain of the wide open Patagonia skies after spending his first two years in captivity.⁠ ⁠ The Andean condor has now made a comeback, and for many locals that has a spiritual resonance. “The condor flies very high, so our elders used to say that the condor could take a message to those who are no longer here,” said Doris Canumil, a Mapuche who took part in the ceremonies for the liberation of the condors. ⁠ ⁠ While they celebrate the success of the program, conservationists worry it could all be erased. Preliminary plans for a massive wind farm that could be located in the Somuncura Plateau to feed a green hydrogen project is putting at risk a three-decade-long effort to repopulate Patagonia’s Atlantic coast with a bird that is classified as vulnerable to extinction.⁠ ⁠ #APPhotos by Natacha Pisarenko @natachapisarenko ⁠ ⁠ Click the link in the bio for more.