Back from the Brink

In 1985 only 9 California Condors remained in the wild. The last of which was captured on April 19, 1987 and entered into a captive breeding program with all that remained of the world's California Condors.

From twenty-two Individuals, a desperate last minute effort began to save one of the world's largest flying birds from total extinction, but it's been a difficult road. Condors only begin breeding when six years old, and each breeding pair will lay only a single egg every 1-2 years. Making recovery a very slow process.

In January 1992 the first captive bred condor was released in to the wild, and in 2003 the first wild born condor since 1982 left it's nest deep in the heart of the Grand Canyon. Today there are somewhere around 500 condors in North america, half of which live in the wild. Each and every one a descendent of the twenty-two birds captured in the 1980s.

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But it's not all good news. Mortality rates among wild condors remain extremely high for many of the same reasons which led to their near extinction in the 20th century. Loss of habitat, diminished food sources, lead poisoning, trash ingestion and poaching continue to frustrate condor restoration efforts.

They remain one of the rarest animals in the world. So rare, that they are one of relatively few species where each and every individual is numbered, and tagged.

Against the odds condors have come back from the brink of extinction, but they are far from in the clear. Condors are still hugely dependent on captive breeding programs and continuing conservation efforts. But there is hope that with greater awareness and continuing efforts to preserve and restore these birds to what is left of their historic range, that condors may once again soar through our skies on their 10ft wings.

Condors remind us that it is possible to bring a species back from the brink. But it requires continual effort and dedication. We've been fortunate to see four wild condors in our Wild Spaces travels, and each time it has been a huge thrill.

​Check out the stunning footage we shot of these massive birds in Zion and Grand Canyon National Parks. And make sure to check out our store for our new Condor T-Shirts!

Condor T-shirts

References:
http://www.nps.gov/grca/learn/nature/condor-re-introduction.htm
http://www.fws.gov/uploadedFiles/Region_8/NWRS/Zone_1/Hopper_Mountain_Complex/Hopper_Mountain/Sections/News/News_Items/PDFs/_California%20Condor%20Five%20Year%20Review_2013%20Final%20Published.pdf
​http://www.defenders.org/california-condor/basic-facts