Vicky Meretsky Quotations

The primary lesson that needs to be learned from this experience is that each recovery program has unique aspects. A research component that watches what is going on and learns from that is essential. There was no research component to this program at all.

Mixing the two stocks in the wild has resulted in the transfer of bad habits from the puppet-reared to the parent-reared birds. All misbehaving birds in the wild should be re-trapped and returned to captivity, since they pose a risk of passing on their bad behavior to birds released in the future.

My concern is about when a condor attacks a 3-year-old child. We can't wait until there is a public outcry. There is too much support and funding to be lost. The condor does not need to share the negative reputation of the wolf. If someone gets injured that is a real possibility.

In the state of California, many people have an emotional attachment to this bird because they came so close to the brink of extinction. But it may be necessary to take a step back. In a way that's like taking a prize away from the people who have added to the condor success story.