Edition: U.S. / Global  Zoo Condors to Be Released in Andes
Published: December 16, 1997  Five condor chicks born and raised
in captivity will be released into the Andes on Thursday and
tracked by satellite to gather information that could make it
easier to re-introduce condors into countries like Venezuela,
Ecuador and Colombia.  The scientists directing the program hope
that the chicks will be adopted by wild condors. The young birds
will be released with tiny transmitters attached to their wings
so they can be tracked.  Condors live throughout the Andes but
are in danger of extinction in most of South America, including
Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia.  When fully grown, condors have
a wingspread of about 10 feet, making them the world's largest
flying birds. Condor chicks usually cannot fly until they are a
year old.  The chicks will be set free near the resort town of
Bariloche, 990 miles southwest of Buenos Aires.  The birds were
raised in captivity at the Buenos Aires Zoo, then taken to the
town of Va