How we brought the condor back from the brink | Michael Mace | TEDxDeExtinction

Summary

The California condor, once on the brink of extinction with only 22 birds left, has made a remarkable recovery through conservation efforts. The species, which coexisted with the likes of the saber-toothed cat, faced threats from human activities. A collaborative program involving zoos, utility companies, and wildlife services has successfully bred the condor in captivity and released them back into the wild. Innovative techniques like double-clutching and behavior modification have been employed to ensure the species' survival, with over 400 condors now living, more than half of them flying freely.

Takeaways

• 🦅 The California condor was nearly extinct, with only 22 birds left in 1987 due to human activities.
• 🌿 The condor is a Pleistocene-era species that survived alongside Harlan's giant sloth, the American mastodon, and the saber-toothed cat.
• 📉 The condor's habitat shrank from upstate New York and northern Florida to Vancouver to Baja Mexico due to European settlers.
• 🚫 The bird faced threats from contaminants like lead and DDT, electrocution, and collisions with power lines.
• 🛡️ The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service intervened, placing the remaining condors in zoos for protection and breeding.
• 🔬 Innovative conservation techniques, including double-clutching and puppet rearing, were employed to increase the population.
• 🧬 Genetic management was crucial, with every individual condor genetically mapped to prevent inbreeding.
• 🏥 West Nile virus posed a significant threat, but a vaccine was developed and administered to the condors.
• 🗑️ Microtrash ingestion was an underestimated problem, requiring surgery to remove items like bottle caps and pieces of glass from the condors.
• ♻️ Condors play an important ecological role by scavenging and cleaning up carcasses, which helps prevent the spread of harmful toxins.
• 💉 Lead poisoning from ingesting lead shot used in hunting was a significant threat, leading to efforts to reduce lead in the environment.

Q & A

What led to the near extinction of the California condor?

The California condor was pushed to the brink of extinction due to human activities, including contaminants like lead and DDT, electrocution, and collisions with power lines.

Why is the California condor significant in terms of evolutionary history?

The California condor dates back to the Pleistocene era and lived alongside now-extinct species like Harlan's giant sloth, the American mastodon, and the saber-toothed cat. It is the only one of these animals that has survived to the present day.

What was the main debate regarding the conservation of the condor in 1987?

The debate centered around whether to let the species die in dignity or intervene to prevent extinction, given that its decline was largely due to human-caused factors.

How did zoos contribute to the conservation of the condor?

Zoos like the San Diego Zoo Safari Park and the Los Angeles Zoo safeguarded the remaining condors in captivity, developed breeding programs, and employed techniques like double-clutching and using hand puppets to prevent human imprinting on chicks.

What is double-clutching, and how did it help increase condor reproduction?

Double-clutching is a technique where the first egg is removed and incubated, allowing the parents to raise a second egg. This increased the reproduction rate from one chick every two years to four chicks.

How was the issue of condor electrocution on power lines addressed?

Utility companies worked with conservationists to bury power lines in key areas. Condors were also trained using mock power poles with mild electric shocks to stop them from roosting on hazardous power structures.

What was the role of genetics in the condor recovery program?

Genetic mapping was used to manage the small population of condors and prevent inbreeding. This data helped in pairing condors for breeding and safeguarding genetic diversity.

What threat did West Nile virus pose to the condor population, and how was it mitigated?

West Nile virus killed several condors, but the Center for Disease Control developed a vaccine that was administered to all condors, requiring annual boosters to protect the population.

How is microtrash a danger to condors, and what behavior leads to its ingestion?

Condors often ingest microtrash, mistaking it for small pieces of bone they consume for calcium. This leads to serious health issues, including the need for surgery to remove the trash.

Why is it important to continue conservation efforts for species like the California condor?

Condors serve as environmental indicators, reflecting the health of the ecosystems we share with them. By listening to what these species reveal about the environment, we can make informed decisions to protect both wildlife and human well-being.