For Immediate UseContact: Garrison Frost
June 3, 2008(323) 951-9620

Los Angeles – One of only about 150 free-flying California Condors unexpectedly died this week during treatment for dangerously high levels of lead in its system. This death – and the detection of increased lead levels in at least four other condors – comes less than a month before a new ban on lead ammunition in condor habitat comes into effect.

“The ban on lead ammunition isn’t coming a moment too soon for the California Condor,” said Graham Chisholm, director of conservation for Audubon California. “With only 300 condors in the world, to lose even one bird is a major setback for this important conservation program and a severe threat to the entire species.”

Last October, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed AB 821, authored by Assemblyman Pedro Nava, which initially set the ban on lead ammunition. That ban is set to go into effect on July 1, 2008.

Condors frequently feed on animal carcasses left behind by hunters, and ingest dangerously high levels of lead from ammunition. Audubon California, which has advocated on behalf of the endangered species since the 1930s, has been pushing for additional protections for the Condor both among hunters and actively at the legislative and policy levels.

While the upcoming lead ammunition ban offers hope that this threat can be removed from condor habitat, Chisholm noted that increased levels of lead being detected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in California Condors may indicate that even greater steps need to be taken.

“Lead is a poison that has no place in our environment,” said Chisholm. “Obviously this ban needs to be enforced rigorously and if this ban proves to not be enough, then we should consider additional measures.”

Audubon California today welcomed the announcement that the Tejon Ranch Company, owner of the largest contiguous private landholding in the state, that it would take immediate steps to tighten the current voluntary ban on lead ammunition that it announced in February 2007 and took effect ahead of the restriction on lead ammunition in California.

Tejon Ranch Co. has agreed to an immediate 30-day halt in all hunting on the ranch, during which time it will work with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to identify and implement additional steps to strengthen its ban on the use of lead ammunition on the Tejon Ranch.  Beginning next week, the Tejon Ranch will work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish contaminant-free feeding stations for condors in order to ensure that the condors, including the five chicks currently in nests receive the food they need. 

“We’re pleased that the Tejon Ranch is now taking these additional steps to tighten their ban on the use of lead ammunition to protect the condor,” said Chisholm. “The ranch should be given credit both for being the first to implement such a large-scale ban, and the first to take its condor protections even further.”

 

About Audubon California

Audubon California is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. With more than 50,000 members in California and an affiliated 48 local Audubon chapters, Audubon California is a field program of Audubon. This relationship links Audubon California to a national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engaging millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in conservation.

More information is available at www.ca.audubon.org.