The Andean condor recovery program represents one of the most successful zoo-to-wild conservation efforts, with captive welfare practices designed to support wild release.
Condor captive welfare is designed with wild release as the primary goal, creating unique management considerations. Human imprinting prevents successful wild integration, so keeper contact is minimized and feeding tools that disguise human involvement are used. Social housing is important for species that rely on complex social relationships for foraging information and hierarchy establishment. Flight space must be adequate for birds that in the wild soar hundreds of kilometers daily. The success of condor recovery demonstrates that carefully managed captive welfare programs can achieve conservation outcomes that justify the inherent welfare compromises of captivity.