Condor Captured, May Go Back to Zoo
A California condor that could not stay away from civilization was captured and was being held in the Sespe Condor Sanctuary in Ventura County, awaiting a decision on whether to return the endangered vulture to the zoo where it was hatched, authorities said Tuesday.
The capture followed the death on June 24 of a condor near San Marcos Pass in Santa Barbara County. That death occurred after U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists found that two of the five condors in the wild were landing on back yard fences and on swimming pool decks.
After biologists tried to get the birds back to their more remote home in the backcountry of Santa Barbara County, one flew into a power line and died of a broken pelvis. The second bird flew back to rejoin the other birds.
But the second bird returned to the populated area over the weekend and was captured Monday. Biologists will meet with condor recovery team members Thursday to decide whether the male condor should be returned to a zoo, said Marc M. Weitzel), condor recovery project leader.
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