California Condor

At the begining of the 1900s the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) population began to plummet after decades of shooting and poisoning. While habitat loss is a factor and limits the total population, the habitat that remains is still intact to sustain a population of condors. In 1987, the last wild condor was taken into captivity to join 26 others. A successful captive breeding and reintroduction program by the the Ventana Wildlife Society,turned the tide. In 1998, the total population reached 150 birds, and 35 of those were in the wild.
Condors are now seen throughout the mountains, coastal canyons and valleys of Big Sur.