Condor Recovery Program

The Ventana Wildlife Society has been monitoring the dangerously low numbers of the California Condor for many years and in 1987 the last of 26 wild condors was captured and put into a breeding program.  There are now over 400 condors alive and well in California. Ventana Wildlife Society’s executive director, Kelly Sorenson discusses their concerns of trying to save the California Condor from extinction and why the Condor is an important part of the environment.  A major contributing factor in the decline of the Condor is due to lead poisoning from lead based bullets.

Ventana Wildlife Society                                                                                
ventanaws.org

Oakland Zoo

The Oakland Zoo is the new Northern California location for the California Condor Recovery Program.  Condors that are ill or have been injured at the Ventana Wilderness will now only travel 3 hours to the Oakland Zoo for their care.  The Oakland Zoo has created a new facility that is specifically designed for the rehabilitation of the Condors.  Dr. Andrea Goodnight, Associate Veterinarian at the Oakland Zoo speaks about their passion in helping with saving the California Condor.

Oakland Zoo Condor Recovery Program
oaklandzoo.org

Lead Poisoning of Condors

Kelly Sorenson of the Ventana Wildlife Society is joined by Dr. Myra Finkelsteain of UC Santa Cruz to discusses why lead poisoning is killing California Condors. The presented their proposed solution of the use of non-lead bullets by hunters and farmers in CA.  Organizations such as Hunting with Non-Lead Ammunition have information on non-lead ammunition for hunters.

Hunting with Non-Lead Ammunitionhuntingwithnonlead.org