California Condor
The California Condor(Gymnogyps californianus) is a New World vulture, the largest North American
land bird. This condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 (all
remaining wild individuals were captured) but has been reintroduced to northern
Arizona and southern Utah (including the Grand Canyon area and Zion National Park), coastal mountains of central
and southern California, and northern Baja California. Although other fossil members are known, it is the only
surviving member of the genus Gymnogyps.
Condor numbers dramatically declined in the 20th century due to poaching, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction. A conservation plan was put in place by the United
States government that led to the capture of all 22 remaining wild condors in
1987. These surviving birds were bred at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Los Angeles Zoo. Numbers rose through captive breeding and, beginning in 1991, condors have been reintroduced into the wild.
land bird. This condor became extinct in the wild in 1987 (all
remaining wild individuals were captured) but has been reintroduced to northern
Arizona and southern Utah (including the Grand Canyon area and Zion National Park), coastal mountains of central
and southern California, and northern Baja California. Although other fossil members are known, it is the only
surviving member of the genus Gymnogyps.
Condor numbers dramatically declined in the 20th century due to poaching, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction. A conservation plan was put in place by the United
States government that led to the capture of all 22 remaining wild condors in
1987. These surviving birds were bred at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Los Angeles Zoo. Numbers rose through captive breeding and, beginning in 1991, condors have been reintroduced into the wild.