Bonjour,

Nous vous communiquons (en anglais) le message d'un de nos contacts aux USA :

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, working closely with the
California Department of Fish and Game, is investigating the senseless
shooting and killing of Adult Condor 8, one of the last California condors
taken into captivity in the 1980s and a matriarch of the captive-breeding
program. AC-8 was found dead on February 13, and a subsequent necropsy
determined that the bird died of gunshot.

No arrests have been made.

One of only a few dozen endangered California condors in the wild,
AC-8 was the last female condor captured in 1986 in a last-ditch effort to
save the species from extinction. She spent 14 years in captivity in the
captive-breeding program and was the first of the original wild birds to be
released in April 2000.

"The death of this majestic bird is a great tragedy and a tremendous
loss," Interior Secretary Gale Norton said. "While we have had great
success in our condor recovery efforts to date, we cannot accept the
needless loss of any of these great birds. We are actively pursuing a full
investigation of this matter."

"This unnecessary death at the hands of a poacher marks a sad day for
California," said California Resources Secretary Mary D. Nichols. "We have
lost one of the last wild condors, but we remain committed to bringing back
these magnificent birds from the edge of extinction. I call on the public
to support us in that effort, and also help us find the poacher responsible
for this senseless killing."

With the death of AC-8, only 79 birds remain in the wild. Another 118
are in captivity at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the Los Angeles Zoo.

AC-8 was believed to be more than 30 years old. She produced 12
offspring in captivity.

The bird's carcass was recovered in a remote area of southern Kern
County, California. The necropsy was conducted at the Service's forensics
laboratory in Ashland, Oregon.

The California condor is listed as an endangered species and is
protected by both federal and California law. Violation of the Federal
Endangered Species Act carries a maximum penalty of one year confinement
and a fine of $100,000.

"We will not let the tragic death of AC-8 slow the forward momentum
of condor recovery," said Marc Weitzel, project leader of the Hopper
Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex and the California Condor
Recovery Program. "AC-8's legacy will carry on. Condors are exhibiting
breeding behavior in the California and Arizona populations and we fully
anticipate wild-born condors again in the near future."

Anyone with information regarding the shooting of AC-8 is encouraged
to call the Service's Office of Law Enforcement at 916/414-6664. The
Service will pay a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest
and conviction of the person or persons involved. The amount of the award
will be determined by the value to the investigation of the information
provided.

Those with information can also call the Department of Fish and
Game's CalTIP Program line at 1-888-DFG-CALTIP.

The Service's California Condor Recovery Program is a multi-entity
effort to recover the endangered species. Partners include the U.S. Forest
Service, San Diego Wild Animal Park, Los Angeles Zoo, California Department
of Fish and Game, the Peregrine Fund, and Ventana Wilderness Sanctuary. The
newest Mexican partners include the Center for Scientific Investigation and
Graduate Studies in Ensenada and La Secretaria de Medio Ambiente y
Recursos Naturales.

Beginning in 1992, the Service began reintroducing captive-bred
condors to the wild. Birds have been released near the Grand Canyon in
Arizona, in the Ventana Wilderness and the Hopper Mountain National
Wildlife Refuge Complex in California, and ? most recently ? in Baja
California, Mexico.

Généralités et Environnement

Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)

Re: Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)

Re: Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)

Re: Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)

Re: Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)

Re: Dernier Condor de Californie abattu (en anglais)