Threatened species of Gymnogyps californianus

Lead poisoning, shooting, and collisions with man made objects such as power lines, have all been threats to the Californian condor.

The largest bird in the U.S. the California condor was nearly extinct, with just 27 birds remaining. The last few individuals were trapped for captive breeding in 1987. Although the birds were successfully bred in captivity, a few of the first ones to be reintroduced to the wild fell victim to powerlines and antifreeze.

The Californian condor's former habitat included the entire Pacific coast. A small area north of Los Angeles, U.S.A constitutes the remaining range.

The population of California condors now tops 100, with 13 living in the wild in California. During 1999 The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed reintroducing condors into the Grand Canyon after a 70 year absence.

The California condor is listed by the IUCN as "Critically Endangered". CITES lists the species as "Appendix 1".