Home / Environment / Rare California Condors Dazzle Hikers in Utah Canyon
Rare California Condors Dazzle Hikers in Utah Canyon
18 Feb
Summary
- Two rare California condors unexpectedly greeted hikers atop Zion National Park's Angel's Landing.
- Once critically endangered, California condor numbers have significantly recovered due to conservation efforts.
- Individual condors are tracked, with data available online for species enthusiasts to follow.
A recent hike in Utah's Zion National Park led to an astonishing encounter when two California condors were spotted at the summit of Angel's Landing. These immense birds are a rare and protected species, and seeing them in the wild is an exceptional experience.
Their resurgence is a testament to successful conservation initiatives. In 1982, the population dwindled to just 22 individuals, prompting their placement on the Endangered Species List in 1967. Breeding and conservation programs, initiated in the 1980s by institutions like the San Diego and Los Angeles Zoos, have been crucial.
Today, these majestic birds, often fitted with tracking tags, inhabit areas across the western United States, including California, Arizona, and Utah. Enthusiasts can even track individual condors and their histories through online resources, celebrating a significant conservation victory.
