Andean Condor, Incan myth and pollution

Andean civilization probably began c. 9500 BP. Based in the highlands of Peru, an area now referred to as the punas, the ancestors of the Incas probably began as a nomadic herding people.

The Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus) is a species of South American bird in the New World vulture family Cathartidae and is the only member of the genus Vultur. Found in the Andes mountains and adjacent Pacific coasts of western South America, the Andean Condor has a wingspan of up to 3.2 m/10.5 ft; 15 kilograms in weight, nests at elevations of up to 5,000 m (16,000 ft).

The Andean Condor is a national symbol of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. It is the national bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. It plays an important role in the folklore and mythology of the South American Andean regions, and has been represented in Andean art from c. 2500 BCE onward, and they are a part of indigenous Andean religions. 

Andean Condor a giant national flying symbol of Ecuador.
picture by s. brown

The Condor is featured in several coats of arms of Andean countries as a symbol of Andes mountains.

First Coat of arms of Peru

Coat of arms of Bolivia

Coat of arms of Chile

Coat of arms of Colombia

Coat of arms of Ecuador

In Andean mythology, the Andean Condor was associated with the sun deity, and was believed to be the ruler of the upper world. The Andean Condor is considered a symbol of power and health by many Andean cultures.

Incan believed that they are born from 'stars' and after their death they would reach up to the 'milky-way' by riding over the wings of Condors.

It is threatened by habitat loss and due secondary poisoning from carcasses killed by hunters. 

The Andean Condor is considered near threatened by the IUCN.

Captive breeding programs have been instituted in several countries.

Every living species must be saved as this may cost us much dearly. We all know that even one broken link in ecosystem may bring existential devastation for humanity at large ..

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Eagle in Asian mythologies: 
#In India, Indonesia and the rest of Southeast Asia the eagle symbolism is represented by Garuda, a large mythical bird with eagle-like features that appears in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology as the vahana (vehicle) of the god Vishnu. Garuda became the national emblem of Thailand and Indonesia; Thailand's Garuda is rendered in a more traditional anthropomorphic mythical style, while that of Indonesia is rendered in heraldic style with traits similar to the real Javan Hawk-eagle.

#Garuda Purana (Devanagari: गरुड़ पुराण) is one of the Puranas which are part of the Hindu body of texts known as smriti. It is a Vaishnava Purana and its first part contains a dialog between Vishnu and Garuda, the King of Birds. The second half contains details of life after death, funeral rites and the metaphysics of reincarnation, thus it is recited as a part Antyesti (Antim Sanskar) or funeral rites (funeral liturgy) in Hinduism.

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more blog reference:

andean civilization inca empire and global warming

# pictures thankfully shared from wikipedia.org and other internet resources.