In 1987, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service captured 27 wild California condors to save them from extinction. 32 years later, the recovery program hatched its 1,000th chick, marking one of North America’s greatest wildlife recoveries

In 1987, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made a bold and risky decision to capture every remaining California condor living in the wild. At the time, only 27 birds remained. North America's largest land bird had been pushed close to extinction by poaching, lead poisoning and habitat destruction. With every remaining California condor in captivity, conservationists focused on breeding the birds at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo.

The breeding efforts were successful, and in 1991, the condor recovery program began releasing California condors back into the wild.