Poacher Shoots One Of The Last Original California Condors (1 Viewer)

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working closely with the
California Department of Fish and Game, is investigating the senseless
shooting and killing of Adult Condor 8, one of the last California condors
taken into captivity in the 1980s and a matriarch of the captive-breeding
program. AC-8 was found dead on February 13, and a subsequent necropsy
determined that the bird died of gunshot.

No arrests have been made.

One of only a few dozen endangered California condors in the wild,
AC-8 was the last female condor captured in 1986 in a last-ditch effort to
save the species from extinction. She spent 14 years in captivity in the
captive-breeding program and was the first of the original wild birds to be
released in April 2000.

"The death of this majestic bird is a great tragedy and a tremendous
loss," Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. "While we have had great
success in our condor recovery efforts to date, we cannot accept the
needless loss of any of these great birds. We are actively pursuing a full
investigation of this matter."

"This unnecessary death at the hands of a poacher marks a sad day for
California," said California Resources Secretary Mary D. Nichols. "We have
lost one of the last wild condors, but we remain committed to bringing back
these magnificent birds from the edge of extinction. I call on the public
to support us in that effort, and also help us find the poacher responsible
for this senseless killing."

With the death of AC-8, only 79 birds remain in the wild. Another 118
are in captivity at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo.

AC-8 was believed to be more than 30 years old. She produced 12
offspring in captivity.

The bird's carcass was recovered in a remote area of southern Kern
County, California. The necropsy was conducted at the Service's forensics
laboratory in Ashland, Oregon.

The California condor is listed as an endangered species and is
protected by both federal and California law. Violation of the Federal
Endangered Species Act carries a maximum penalty of one year confinement
and a fine of $100,000.

"We will not let the tragic death of AC-8 slow the forward momentum
of condor recovery," said Marc Weitzel, project leader of the Hopper
Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and the California Condor
Recovery Program. "AC-8's legacy will carry on. Condors are exhibiting
breeding behavior in the California and Arizona populations and we fully
anticipate wild-born condors again in the near future."

Anyone with information regarding the shooting of AC-8 is encouraged
to call the Service's Office of Law Enforcement at 916/414-6664. The
Service will pay a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the person or persons involved. The amount of the award
will be determined by the value to the investigation of the information
provided.

Those with information can also call the Department of Fish and
Game's CalTIP Program line at 1-888-DFG-CALTIP.

The Service's California Condor Recovery Program is a multi-entity
effort to recover the endangered species. Partners include the U.S. Forest
Service, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, California Department
of Fish and Game, the Peregrine Fund, and Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary. The
newest Mexican partners include the Center for Scientific Investigation and
Graduate Studies in Ensenada and La Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales.

Beginning in 1992, the Service began reintroducing captive-bred
condors to the wild. Birds have been released near the Grand Canyon in
Arizona, in the Ventana Wilderness and the Hopper Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge Complex in California, and ? most recently ? in Baja
California, Mexico.

The mindlessness of some people beggars belief.

Robin

Quite. It's unbelievable, isn't it?

It's not even as if the B*****D shot it for a trophy. I hope they get the entity involved.

yours sickened,

This is just awful. The sheer ignorance of some people just beggar's belief.

string him up and feed him to the remaining condors

right on Ashley- this is just so sad and so inexcusable.. I take what these elected officials say with a grain of salt though- Interior Secretary Gale Norton is one of the biggest threats to conservation there is- she is pushing for drilling oil in the Artic and her record speaks for itself. It's hypocritical to speak against the killing/illegal shooting of an endangered species while at the same time saying it's ok to go into a pristine environment and wreak havoc for a bit of oil.
Chief Seattle said it well.. what mankind does to the web of life he does to himself...

<what mankind does to the web of life he does to himself...>

What a fantastic statement to make. It encapsulates everything regarding the consequences of humans interference with nature in general in one very short, succinct, sentence.

The demise of AC-8 saddens me greatly. Unfortunately that bird isn't the first, and won't be the last, bird or animal to be persecuted to death.

Why do people have guns anyway?Nina P

Steve, though tragic, thanks for posting this. I had not heard this. I must admit, I like Ashley's idea (though I hear Condors have better taste than that). Forget about any reward, I would just turn them in for the shear pleasure of it. I remember when there were only 35 birds left in the wild, and none had been taken into captivity. Alas, I never was able to see a wild one, despite a number of efforts.

One of the sad things is that Condors don't kill anything. They eat what is already dead. I hope they find who did this and fine that person the max.

nina> they have guns because its the usa!