Wounded Condor Dies at L.A. Zoo

An endangered California condor that was shot in the leg in the Santa Barbara wilderness and then survived two surgeries has died, federal officials said Tuesday.

The 14-month-old condor, nicknamed “Bad Boy” for his feisty nature, died Sunday at Los Angeles Zoo, where he had been recovering since being shot in late May, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service officials in Ventura said.

A necropsy was unable to determine if there was a link between the gunshot wound and the condor’s death, officials said. Blood and tissue samples have been submitted to a lab for analysis.

The condor, one of 35 released in 1992 in California and Arizona, was seen favoring his right leg May 20 near the Lion Canyon area of Los Padres National Forest.

The bird was captured June 2 and taken to the zoo, where doctors discovered a compound fracture of the left leg. X-rays revealed metal fragments from a bullet fired from a small-caliber rifle.

On June 26, veterinarian Stephen Klause operated on the bird, which remained under anesthesia for about an hour. When the condor awakened, it was feisty and later started to gain weight.

A second surgery was performed to repair the damaged leg and to treat it for infection. The condor was eventually able to walk after its leg was stabilized with metal pins and a cast.

The Ventura fish and wildlife office is continuing its investigation of the shooting.

The California condor is a federally endangered species. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, anyone convicted of shooting a California condor faces up to a year in federal prison and a fine.

Anyone with information on this case should call federal officials at (310) 328-1516.