Condor.

Lead Poisoning 'Epidemic' Plagues California Condors

By: AFP Jun 27th 2012 1:46PM

WASHINGTON - The endangered California condor faces an "epidemic" of lead poisoning from scavenging carcasses contaminated by lead bullets despite years of costly conservation efforts, scientists said Monday. The rare birds were reduced to a population of just 22 in 1982, and have since recovered to number about 400, with half of those still in captivity, said the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. RELATED: See More Causes On PawNation About five million dollars are spent per year on programs to boost the birds' population through captive breeding and release programs. But if those efforts were to cease, the birds would likely die off again, said the ...

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