The California Yurok tribe has held the condor as a sacred creature throughout history; they believe the birds fly closest to the Sun and can carry prayers up to the heavens. After a five year research period the tribe has now been granted permission to release captive-bred condors into the wild.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between Yukon officials and state and federal agencies, the Associated Press reported. Further observations will be made to make sure the endangered birds will be able to thrive on the Redwood coast.
Officials are now considering seven spots to be used as the official release site. The Yurok are working to restore the condor to the region as well as increase the number of local salmon.
Condor feathers are used in traditional Yurok ceremonial regalia, but the old plumes cannot be replaced as the number of wild condors is dwindling.
"When a species like condor or eagle gives you material for your regalia, it is considered their spirit is in that, too. They are singing with you, and praying with you," microbiologist Tiana Williams said, the AP reported. "We can get feathers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but it's not the same thing as being able to go out there and collect the feathers we need from condors flying over our own skies."
California condors were once prevalent from Canada to Mexico, now the bird's population has fallen to only about 400 globally; only 230 are believed to exist in the wild.
The primary threat to wild condors is "lead and shot bullets" left in animal carcasses. These bullets can prove fatal if ingested by the birds.
The released birds would be outfitted with GPS tracking chips that would send their geographical locations straight to scientists' computers in hopes of monitoring for lead poisoning, the AP reported.
