California condor recovery from 27 individuals in 1987 to over 500 today is one of conservation's most dramatic successes, achieved through intensive intervention.
The capture of all remaining wild California condors in 1987 was a desperate welfare intervention - removing birds from the wild causes stress but was necessary to prevent extinction. Lead poisoning causes prolonged suffering through neurological impairment and weakness before death. Condors that require capture and treatment for lead poisoning undergo stressful handling and veterinary procedures. The intensive monitoring of every individual bird in the wild and captive populations enables rapid response to welfare emergencies. The success of the recovery program demonstrates that intensive intervention can reverse even the most catastrophic wildlife welfare situations.