Release of the Last Wild Condor Captured for the Recovery Program

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today will release the last free-flying California condor captured for its successful captive breeding program back into the wild, marking a milestone in the history of cooperative efforts to save the species from extinction.

Adult Condor #9 (AC9), will be released into the Sespe Condor Sanctuary near the town of Fillmore, California, with three juvenile condors that are each approximately 12 months old. The release marks the historic return of AC9 to his home territory after 15 years as a breeding male in the Los Angeles Zoo