At 4,200 meters on a Colombian peak, condors skin the carcass of a calf, left there by farmers trying to reconcile with these carrion birds, their legendary "enemies." Up to a few years ago, farmers believed that condors were a threat to their livestock, so they used to shoot them or poison their carrion. Today, farmers recognize its importance as a "cleaning species" that "prevents contamination of water sources" and as a "symbol" of Colombia, since it is also represented in the national coat of arms. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES