Yurok condor recovery efforts topic of zoo talk

West wants everyone to know that “California condors once soared ... across our region.” Courtesy Chris West

On Wednesday, Chris West, wildlife biologist for the Yurok Tribe, will present an illustrated talk on the “The California Condor: Recovery Still in the Balance.” He will cover the biology and history of condors throughout their range, threats to the species and resulting declines, and finally discuss the current conservation program history and progress.

This will include a brief discussion of the Pacific Northwest and how the Yurok Tribe’s project fits into the larger conservation effort.

“Many people on the North Coast are unaware that California condors once soared through the skies across our region,” says West. “My goal with this presentation is to inform the public about the history of condors in our region, the threats facing recovery efforts, and how the public can become advocates for the species and participate in the recovery effort.”

West’s passion for condors began when he interned with the Ventana Wildlife Society, reintroducing and managing California condors in Big Sur. He pursued his master’s degree in Wildlife at Humboldt State University, and his thesis naturally focused on how a condor’s behavior can inform us how the raptor perceives its surroundings. He also fell in love with the North Coast’s diverse wildlife and habitats, and was able to combine his two passions when the Yurok Tribe revealed plans to investigate the possibility of reintroducing the species to the Klamath Basin.

West now heads up condor reintroduction feasibility studies, and community outreach.

The talk will take place in the zoo’s classroom in the Secrets of the Forest building at 7 p.m., with a reception starting 30 minutes prior to the talk.

Sequoia Park Zoo is located at 3414 W St., Eureka. For more information, visit www.sequoiaparkzoo.net or call (707) 441-4263.