In 1985, the number of wild condors nationwide had declined to only only nine birds.

A controversial decision was made to capture all the hremaining condors into captivity in 1987. All hope for recovery was then placed on the captive breeding program. The task was formidable.

The program succeeded. The captive population increased from 27 birds in 1987 to the more than 90.

Best of all, captive bred condors were released back into the wild in California beginning in 1992. Today, about 20 condors fly free in designated California sanctuaries located in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, Monterey and San Luis Obispo counties.

In October, 1996 six birds, two males and four females, were transferred from captive breeding facilities to an acclimation pen constructed on top of the Vermilion Cliffs located about 30 miles north of the Grand Canyon in Arizona. From here the five and six-month-old birds could look out over their new home of the cliffs, House Rock Valley and the Kaibab Plateau. Radio transmitters and numbered tags were attached to each condor to aid biologists in locating and identifying the birds. Finally, it was time to have California condors in Arizona's skies again.

The population has grown since their introduction and now condors can frequently be seen soaring around the canyon rim.