The California condor now soars freely thanks to a conservation program led by Mexican scientists who spearheaded the reintroduction of this species, once declared extinct in Mexico in 1939.
Today, around 48 individuals of this endangered bird glide over the skies of the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir. Its reintroduction in the 1990s has been essential for preserving the region’s ecological balance in northwestern Mexico.
The International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on May 22, inspired Pronatura Noroeste to reflect on the importance of species like the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus).
Biodiversity is the variety of living organisms on Earth—including animals, plants, microorganisms, and their habitats. It is crucial because these life forms are interconnected and contribute to the proper functioning of ecosystems.
The condor exemplifies this interconnectedness. Its role as a scavenger, cleans the ecosystem by feeding on carrion, preventing the spread of bacteria that could harm other species, including humans.
This role is critical in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir, where glaciers form that feed the San Quintín Valley, an important agricultural hub in Mexico.
“Every living organism has a function. If one species is exterminated, imbalance begins,” stated Catalina Porras Peña, director of the reintroduction program, during her talk at the Foro Mar de Cortés summit, a Pronatura Noroeste allied organization.
The condor was declared extinct in 1939. Years later bacterial outbreaks among humans increased due to high bacterial concentrations in decomposing carcasses. The conclusion was that the food chain had been disrupted with the absence of the bird.
According to the National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (Comisión Nacional para el Conocimiento y Uso de la Biodiversidad), the loss of a species can destabilize entire ecosystems, create unhealthy environments, alter other species, and even lead to the emergence of new diseases.
The California condor is not only an emblematic species—it is a vital link in the ecological chain. When that chain is broken, the consequences ripple across flora, fauna, and human communities alike.
Mission: Recovering the California Condor
In 1985, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service captured the last 22 wild California condors. These birds were transferred to the San Diego and Los Angeles zoos.
Five years later, these individuals were reintroduced to their natural habitat in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir in Baja California.
In 2002, a new conservation project was launched by Catalina Porras Peña and Juan Vargas Velazco. Both scientists have spent years living in the mountains without running water or electricity, enduring subzero temperatures and heavy snowfall to ensure the survival of the species.
The project has been sustained thanks to the support of multiple organizations, including Pronatura Noroeste, along with governmental and private partners.
Conservation through monitoring
Thanks to satellite transmitters and genetic analysis, there is a detailed record of the condor in the Sierra de San Pedro Mártir.
It has been discovered that each bird has a distinct personality. Although condors are typically monogamous, instances of infidelity, widowhood, and even separation have been observed.
Monitoring has also helped detect cases of lead poisoning—caused by ingestion of carcasses tainted with bullet fragments. While this issue is more prevalent in the United States, it also affects condors in Baja California.
From just 22 birds in the wild, nowadays, more than 40 condors live freely in Mexico, and the global population exceeds 400—a successful recovery and preservation.
One of these birds, named Tripulante, reached four years of age between March and April and began to show signs of physical maturity.
The conservation team, together with Pronatura Noroeste, continues to closely monitor Tripulante’s development, tracking its path to adulthood to help ensure the continued success of the recovery and reintroduction program.
Translated by: César Egüez
Reviewed and edited by: Fátima Navarrete
