It is hard to believe that 34 years ago, the California Condor was standing on the precipice of extinction. But on this day in 1987, the last wild California Condor was taken into captivity – a momentous decision that ultimately saved the species. Now there is a population of over 500 individuals, and more than 300 of those are flying free in their natural wild habitats. Numbers like these were unimaginable to the original Condor Research Team back in 1987. BBI’s founder, Pete Bloom, led the trapping effort for those last wild condors, and we are all grateful for his contribution to save the imperiled species. Written by Nicollet Overby.