Condor Wounded by Gunshot in Late May Dies

A California condor that survived being shot in the leg and two subsequent surgeries has died, federal officials said.

The 14-month-old condor, nicknamed “Bad Boy” for his feistiness, died Sunday at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he had been recovering since being shot in late May, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officials in Ventura said Tuesday.

An autopsy on the animal was unable to determine if there was a link between the gunshot wound and the condor’s death, officials said. Blood and tissue samples have been submitted to a lab for analysis.

The condor, one of 35 released in California and Arizona in 1992, was seen favoring its right leg May 20 near the Lion Canyon area of Los Padres National Forest.

The bird was captured June 2 and taken to the zoo, where doctors discovered that it was suffering from a severe compound fracture. X-rays revealed small metal fragments that were determined to be from a small-caliber rifle bullet.

On June 26, veterinarian Stephen Klause operated on the bird. The condor was feisty when it awakened and later started to gain weight. A second surgery was later performed to repair the damaged leg and to treat it for infection.

Fish and wildlife officials are continuing their investigation of the shooting.

The California condor is a federally endangered species. Under the U.S. Endangered Species Act, anyone convicted of shooting a California condor could face up to a year in federal prison and a fine.

Anyone with information on the case can call (310) 328-1516.