CCalifornia Condor #242 aka "In the Red"

Condor #161 aka "Matriarch" Condor #167 aka "Kingpin" Condor #168 aka "Beak Boy" Condor # 171, aka "Traveler" Condor #190, aka "Slope Slug" Condor #192 aka "Purist" Condor #194, aka "Whalewatcher" Condor #199, aka "The Great One" Condor #204, aka "Amigo" Condor #208 aka "Solo" Condor #209 aka "Shadow" Condor #219 aka "The Rock" Condor #222 aka "Cosmo" Condor #231 aka "Wild1" Condor #236 aka "Tiny" Condor #242 aka "Red" Condor #251 aka "Crush" Condor #286 aka "Pinns" Condor #294 aka "Late Bloomer" Condor #298 aka "Plain Jane" Condor #303 aka "Lucia" Condor #311 aka "Loner" Condor #318 aka "Benito" Condor #375 aka "Survivor" Condor # 444, aka: "Ventana" Condor #470 aka "Fuego" Condor #477 aka "Phoenix" Condor #499 aka "Gypsy" Condor #501 aka "Spirit" Condor #538 aka "Miracle" Condor #567 aka "McWay" Condor #574 aka "Nomad" More profiles of Pinnacles Condors

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California Condor #242 aka "Red"

Hatchday: April 20, 2001 Release Date: December 12, 2002 Hatch location San Diego Wild Animal Park Sex: Male Current Status: Unpaired and looking! Offspring: none Current location: Big Sur, CA

Condor #242 is nicknamed "Red" because of his near brush with death by lead toxicity. He was captured in the summer of 2007 for a routine check up and was found to have the highest lead level ever recorded in a living condor!! He was immediately rushed to the Los Angeles Zoo, where he underwent intensive and painful therapy for two months. Despite his debilitating lead levels and stressful rehabilitation, he was re-released in Big Sur in fall of 2007 and rejoined his friends in the wild. He did not appear to drop in the hierarchy as expected from such a long hiatus, but rather jumped right back in to the feeding circle. The strength and perseverance exhibited in this condor makes him a favorite among the condor crew, and he exemplifies this species ability to tough out challenging situations.

In 2011 Red was again taken in for lead poisoning, although the levels were not quite as high this time we still rushed him to immediate vet care to undergo treatment. This is one heck of a fighting bird and we will all be happier if he continues his survival streak into a lead-free future one day.

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