At least a half dozen endangered California condors were spotted in Sequoia National Park in May, according to the US Fish and Wildlife Service. “Condors historically occupied the Sierra Nevada mountains and were known to nest in the cavities of giant sequoia trees. But by 1982, the flock’s population had dropped dramatically — largely because of lead poisoning — leaving less than 25 surviving condors.” A captive breeding program at the Los Angeles Zoo and San Diego Wild Animal Park saved the California condor from extinction. Captive-bred birds were released back into the wild beginning in 1992 and their numbers have steadily increased.

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