Another California Condor was found dead in Northern Arizona. Condor #258 was found dead in the Kaibab National Forest in northwestern Arizona. The carcass was found along Forest Road 22 near mile post 27 north of Big Springs. The young male hatched on 25 May 2001 at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise, Idaho and was released into the wild on 16 February 2002 along with seven other birds.

"The death of condor #258 was a senseless act that should not have occurred," stated Bill Heinrich of The Peregrine Fund. "The person responsible or anybody with information should step forward to the proper authorities," finished Heinrich.

Three of the primary partners in the California Condor Recovery Program in northern Arizona are offering rewards totaling $21,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of individuals responsible for two of the recent deaths of California Condors in Arizona. The Peregrine Fund and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are offering rewards of up to $10,000 and the Arizona Game and Fish Department is offering up to $1,000.

Condor #258's personality was highlighted in the 16-30 May edition of the "Notes from the Field" section on The Peregrine Fund's web site (www.peregrinefund.org/notes_condor.html)

".........Meanwhile, the juvenile and re-released condors continued to keep us busy as they kept exploring new ground and expanding the boundaries of their known world. Our youngest condor, Condor 258 (tag #8), traveled to the South Rim for the first time on 22 May. As with many of our first time condor visitors to the South Rim, Condor 258 kept his visit short and sweet. He followed the other birds' examples and consistently perched in good spots before returning to the release site on 24 May....................

...............Condor 258 put on a show, soaring around the bridge and delighting the assembled tourists. Suddenly, though, a gust of wind seemed to take Condor 258 off guard. Still an inexperienced young flier, Condor 258 smacked into the bridge support beams head first then landed shakily on a nearby ledge. Concern rippled among the group. Condor 258 appeared to be fine, but remained perched for the next few hours.......... Long after the last of the tourists had departed, I watched Condor 258 find a safe spot to roost and settle down for the night.............."

In addition to Condor #258, Condor #186 was killed sometime between 28 and 30 August in the Kaibab National Forest in northwestern Arizona. The body was found south of Jacob Lake and northwest of Forest Road 205C. Condor #186, a male, was hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo on April 15, 1998. He was transported to The Peregrine Fund's Hurricane Cliffs release site on October 8, 1998 and released with eight other condors on November 18th of the same year. This condor was expected to begin breeding at the normal age (six or seven years).

Individuals with information they believe may be helpful should call: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agent in Flagstaff, AZ at (928) 556-7451 or Arizona Game and Fish Operation Game Thief at 1-800-352-0700.

For more information, contact:

Erin Katzner

Director of Global Engagement

Main Phone:208-362-3716

Direct Phone:208-362-8277