In Baja California, Mexico, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) soars once more, marking a successful reintroduction effort. Biologist Juan Vargas Velasco and María Catalina Porras Peña have dedicated over 20 years to managing the 48 condors in Mexican territory.
This project stems from 1980s US recovery efforts, addressing population decline from lead poisoning due to hunter's bullets. The species disappeared from Mexico in the late 1930s. The return began in 2002 with captive-bred condors, a result of US-Mexico collaboration. Porras Peña tracks each condor's history in an Excel log, noting details like origin, ID, and status.
North America's largest bird's revival is attributed to binational cooperation, investment, dedication, and scientific understanding, including genome decoding and disease knowledge. Challenges persist in establishing self-sustaining wild populations. The US California Condor Recovery Program, initiated in the 1970s, involved capturing the last wild condors for captive breeding. April 19, 1987, marked their extinction in the wild. A captive breeding program was launched, recognizing the condor's role in ecosystems by eliminating remains of dead animals and preventing disease. Rodolfo Dirzo, a Stanford University biologist, defines this as a refaunation project.
The first captive birth occurred in 1988 at the San Diego Zoo. Techniques like double clutching, artificial incubation, and puppet rearing were developed. Xewe and Chocuyens were the first to return to the wild in 1992, accompanied by Andean condors to aid adaptation. By the late 1990s, multiple breeding centers existed. In 1999, US-Mexico collaboration began for reintroduction in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir National Park.
By 2023, the global population reached 561, with 344 in the wild. Cynthia Steiner at the San Diego Zoo preserves DNA from 1,200 condors. Genomic information aids in understanding hazards, managing breeding, and identifying genetic diseases like chondrodystrophy. Genetic analysis also enables sex determination and minimizes inbreeding. Parthenogenesis, asexual reproduction was discovered. The condor genome, decoded in 2021, revealed a prehistoric population of 10,000 to 100,000. Decline began 40,000 years ago, exacerbated by humans. Genetic variability remains similar to non-endangered birds.
Lead poisoning remains a threat. From 1992-2023, 137 condors died from lead poisoning. The Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act of 2007 mandates lead-free ammunition in California condor ranges. The 1996 California Condor Recovery Plan aims to change the status from "endangered" to "threatened," requiring at least two reintroduced populations and one captive population with 150 individuals each. Currently, populations exist in Arizona, Utah, California, and Baja California. Nacho Vilchis estimates 10-15 years to achieve self-sustainability. Constant monitoring is crucial. Juan Vargas Velasco rappels down cliffs to examine chicks. GPS transmitters cost $4,000, with $80 monthly satellite subscriptions per bird. Funding is secured through NGOs and programs like "I'm Back BC Condor." The Chapultepec Zoo in Mexico City houses a breeding center and a "rozen DNA bank.
Collaboration between Mexican institutions has been key. Baja California is recognized for its pristine forest and low lead levels. In 2022, a puma attacked a pre-release aviary, killing two condors, highlighting nature's unpredictable impact.