Breeding California condor dies of lead poisoning.wildlifeextra. December 15, 2009. Dead condor a blow for species recovery. The adult female of the only breeding pair of California Condors in San Benito County was recently rushed to the Los Angeles Zoo for emergency treatment after National Park Service biologists observed the bird exhibiting unusual behaviour.  The condor’s legs were not moving properly and it had ceased to fly as often as is normal for an adult condor.Condor #303 was originally released in Monterey by the Ventana Wildlife Society but later successfully nested in San Benito County with Condor #313, the first and only breeding pair there in approximately 70 years. Veterinarians discovered that the condor had an extremely high level of lead in its blood stream and emergency treatment was undertaken to help the bird pass lead out of its system. Paralysis of the legs had been brought about by the neuro-toxic effects of the heavy metal. A radiograph also demonstrated that a metallic object was lodged within the condor’s digestive tract. Despite behavioural signs of recovery over two weeks of treatment, the condor still died. The cause of death was determined to be lead toxicosis.[ See ]

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