THREE NEW CONDORS TAKE TO THE SKIES IN PATAGONIA Cheered on by community groups from throughout the region, three once-captive Andean condors were released into the blue expanse of Patagonian skies by the Manku Project to reinforce a growing local population of the largest raptor in the world. After months of rehabilitation and acclimatization, Carmen, Auquinco, and Farellón were released, outfitted with satellite and radio transmitters which will collect key data about their health and use of h

California condors have soared in the skies of North America for some 11,000 years. By 1982, the wild population had dwindled to just 22 birds, largely due to lead poisoning from bullets left in the carrion they consume. In collaboration with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other conservation partners, the L.A. Zoo began an intensive breeding and reintroduction program, which has seen the California condor population climb to more than 550 individuals—with more than half of those birds li