Crossposted from https://slrpnk.net/post/38555146
Before the Yurok-led reintroduction effort began in 2008, the last free-flying condor in Northern California was documented during the early 1900s in Humboldt County.
From a low of 22 birds in 1989, the California condor population has grown to 607 as of 2025 — with 392 now flying free in the wild, said Williams-Claussen.
the article does a great job of explaining some of the work behind these programmes!


How do they prevent low gene diversity with such a low initial population?
i believe the 22 birds in 1989 might mean 22 in the wild in that area, based on the previous paragraph. and it seems to be a big coordination with zoos etc:
the person being interviewed there is: