In 1987, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured 27 wild California condors to save them from extinction. 32 years later, the recovery program hatched its 1,000th chick, marking one of North America’s greatest wildlife recoveries

In 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made a bold and risky decision to capture every remaining California condor living in the wild. At the time, only 27 birds remained. North America's largest land bird had been pushed close to extinction by poaching, lead poisoning and habitat destruction. With every remaining California condor in captivity, conservationists focused on breeding the birds at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo.

The breeding efforts were successful, and in 1991, the condor recovery program began releasing California condors back into the wild.

Thirty-two years after the remaining wild birds were captured, the recovery program reached another major milestone. In 2019, its 1,000th chick hatched since the launch of the recovery program, as per a NWF report.

Only 27 California condors remained in the wild

By the late 20th century, poaching, lead poisoning, and habitat destruction had nearly driven the California condor to extinction.

In 1987, only 27 birds remained in the wild, prompting the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to capture all of them.

With every existing California condor in captivity, efforts focused on breeding the birds and rebuilding their population.

The recovery program began returning condors to the wild

Breeding efforts at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo were successful.

In 1991, the condor recovery program began releasing the birds back into the wild. The population has since grown, and by 2018, an estimated 537 California condors were living in the wild or in captivity.

A year later, the recovery program's 1,000th chick hatched.

Condors are being reintroduced to the Pacific Northwest

The recovery effort also includes work to reintroduce California condors to Yurok Ancestral Territory and the Pacific Northwest.

The Yurok Tribe, through the Yurok Condor Restoration Program and in partnership with the National Park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is leading the reintroduction effort.

The California condor's recovery has included captive breeding and releases back into the wild, following the 1987 decision to capture the last 27 birds remaining in the wild.