Abstract
![]() Tracking Reintroduced California Condors in the Wild Track: Ecology and Conservation Author(s): Michael Wallace, Juan Vargas, Alejandro Hinojosa, Catalina Porras In 1987, due to the California condor population decline, the remaining 27 individuals were captured and brought to the Los Angeles Zoo and the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park for captive breeding with the first young produced in 1988 and released to the wild beginning in 1992. Today there are nearly 250 individuals in the world with more than 100 in the wild that have been reintroduced in California, Arizona, and Baja California, M�xico. We attached to the wing of some of the birds lightweight GPS receivers interfaced with transmitters communicating with ARGOS space-based satellites. Through daily e-mail messages since May 2004, project managers receive position, altitude, speed, and bearing information to track them in the wild. The case of the condors released in Baja California, M�xico, will be presented, showing how GPS/satellite communications and GIS have assisted in the recovery of this highly endangered species in the San Pedro Martir sierra. Michael Wallace Zoological Society of San Diego Earth Sciences 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego , CA 92101 US Phone: (619) 744-3313 Fax: (619) 744-3314 E-mail: alhinc@cicese.mx Juan Vargas Zoological Society of San Diego Condors 2920 Zoo Drive San Diego , CA 92101 US Phone: (619) 744-3313 E-mail: caty_porras@yahoo.com Alejandro Hinojosa CICESE Earth Sciences PO BOX 434843 San Diego , CA 92143-4843 US Phone: 011526461750500 E-mail: alhinc@cicese.mx Catalina Porras CICESE Conservation Ecology PO Box 434843 Ensenada , Baja California 22800 MX Phone: 011526461750500 Fax: 011526461750559 E-mail: caty_porras@yahoo.com |