California Condors, earlier one of the most wide-spread terrestrial species throughout the North America continent among birds of prey, is on the verge of extinction nowadays. The reduction of their number, especially during 1990s, is a sorrowful consequence of several reasons. First and foremost, it is associated with persecution by shepherds, who assumed that condors are likely to be involved in sheep disappearance, notwithstanding the fact that condors feed on carrion solely (cattle, sheep, deer, and horses in any state of decay). The second one is an assumption that condors ate the corpses of poisoned animals and the last is related to their slow reproduction (one nestling in two years).
It is interesting to know that California Condors is a relict species, which have reached us in a million years.In the eighteenth century California Condors occupied mountainous area alongside the Pacific coast from British Columbia to northern Baja California. Surprisingly, there were nearly 25 birds accounted in 1980s, inhabiting mainly the Grand Canyon area. Hence, the last condors in small numbers were caught several years ago and used for breeding.
The peculiar feature of California condors lies in their sizes: they appear to be one of the biggest bird species in the world being 110 cm in length and having nearly three meters wingspan. In comparison, the biggest wingspan was indicated in 1965 in albatross, which was wandering in Tasmanian Sea, - 3,63 meters. The most vivid thing in condors' appearance is missing feathers from most of their head and neck, which helps these species to avoid any infection while inserting them into a dead animal. Being less attractive than any other bird species, California condor still can boast with its presentment on the national emblem of the United States.
Besides, being a sort of national icon, California Condors are also linked with religious traditions of Indians, an American native population. Despite an absence of any ceremonies directed to condors specifically, their feathers were usually used in religious curing rites and dances. In particular, a splice of condors' wing feathers was made with its further attachment to head ornaments. Frankly speaking, these feathers carried out religious and traditional meaning for Indians in both Americas: in North America the sacredness is approved by their involvement in spiritual cults and in South America condor was considered a bird of the sun god from ancient times (in South America an Andean Condor is distributed). Hence, the recovery of condors determines not only biodiversity significance, but cultural as well.
The recovery program of Californian zoologists started in 1992, which has already launched the reproduction of birds in captivity with their further release in natural habitat. Among prospective goals of this company maintenance of two wild populations with at least 150 individuals is pointed out, which might be considered as a huge breakthrough in future.
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