California Condor I

I created this artwork to honor the majestic California Condor and the remarkable journey of its resurgence. As a Peruvian, the Condor holds profound significance in my cultural heritage, symbolizing the connection between heaven and earth according to Inca tradition.

I was fascinated to learn about the story of the California Condor and how it was how human intervention helped bring it back after humans nearly drove it to extinction. Facing near-extinction by the mid-20th century, with only 22 individuals remaining in the wild by 1982, bold action was required to prevent their disappearance. A controversial decision was made to bring all remaining condors into captivity to support their breeding, and the last wild bird was captured on April 19, 1987.

Since then, significant progress has been made. Condors bred in captivity began to be released into the wild in California in 1992, marking the beginning of their journey back to freedom. Today, thanks in part to the concerted efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners, the wild condor population has grown to over 300 individuals.

In 2004, the Recovery Program reached an important milestone with the first successful chick hatched in the wild. In 2008, another major milestone was reached when more condors were flying free in the wild than in captivity for the first time since the program began.

This artwork pays homage to the resilience of the California Condor and serves as a reminder of our collective responsibility to protect and preserve our bird relatives.