In 1999, a gangster landed in a California forest for a new life. Years later, he helped save America’s largest land birds from extinction

In 1999, Anthony Prieto stood inside California’s vast Los Padres National Forest and looked towards the sky. Above him was a sight he had dreamed of since childhood: a California condor flying wild and free. For Prieto, seeing the enormous bird was deeply personal. His grandfather, who had inspired his fascination with wildlife, had died just a month earlier. But there was another reason the moment carried so much weight. Prieto had once dropped out of university, become involved in gang life and committed petty crimes. Now, he had arrived in the 1.75-million-acre forest as a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) volunteer. The former gang member was beginning a new chapter that would eventually make him an advocate for one of North America’s most endangered birds.

Who is Anthony Prieto? How a gangster turned into a conservationist

Prieto grew up in Santa Paula, near California’s Topatopa Mountain Range. His grandfather, an immigrant from Michoacán, Mexico, would tell him stories about giant birds circling the skies around the region. Those childhood stories stayed with him. “I dreamt about this moment all my life,” Prieto told the USFWS while remembering his first wild condor sighting. He said seeing the bird brought tears to his eyes as he thought about his grandfather. Prieto's fascination with condors would eventually become part of a much bigger transformation.

When Prieto's life was heading in the wrong direction

Prieto had attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, but dropped out. He subsequently became involved with gangs and committed a series of petty crimes. Eventually, he realised where his choices could lead. “There was a situation where I had to make a choice,” he recalled. Prieto turned towards faith and spiritual healing. He also began hunting with Vietnam War veterans, who introduced him to the ethics of modern wildlife management and taught him about the consequences human actions could have on wildlife.

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What transformed Prieto's life?

While Prieto was changing his own life, California condors were fighting for survival. A major recovery programme had begun in the early 1980s when only a few dozen remained. Scientists monitored the birds with radio transmitters and collected eggs for incubation. In April 1987, the situation reached a critical point. AC-9, the last California condor remaining in the wild, was captured by USFWS biologists and joined 26 other condors being held in two California zoos. The extraordinary intervention was intended to prevent the species from disappearing completely. Lead ammunition had emerged as a major threat to condors. As scavengers, the birds could ingest lead fragments while feeding on animals that had been shot.

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A hunter who could talk to other hunters

Prieto realised his own hunting experience could become an advantage. During the early 2000s, he began approaching hunters and educating them about lead poisoning and non-lead ammunition. He had experience shooting both lead and copper bullets, which meant he could discuss the issue from a hunter’s perspective. He could also speak to people in both Spanish and English, helping conservation messages reach Latino and Hispanic hunting communities. Prieto recalled that some biologists and interns were intimidated by the idea of approaching armed hunters in the field. He had no such hesitation. His background gave him a way to begin conversations that others sometimes struggled to have.

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What does Prieto do for a living?

On July 1, 2019, California implemented a statewide ban on using lead ammunition when taking wildlife with a firearm. For Prieto, it marked an important development after years of advocating for non-lead hunting, although he believed the work of recovering the California condor was far from finished. His transformation also extended beyond conservation. According to the USFWS, Prieto went on to mentor at-risk teenagers, teach his three sons about environmental stewardship and human rights, continue volunteering and educate hunters. The man who once faced a choice about where his own life was heading eventually dedicated himself to helping wildlife and other people find a better future. Prieto perhaps explained his second chance best himself: “However you leave this planet, leave it a little better than what it was when you first got here.”