26 June 2026
Hello Everyone,
There are some posts, like Gessner’s article on the pending extinction of the osprey in The Bay area, that deserve their own blog. Today there is also another one – and I am posting it separately.
I adored Iniko and followed her story from the time she was just a dot in a shell, the hope of Redwood Queen and Kingpin, the leader of the California Condor condo. She was incredible and I remember that December day when she was finally released into the wild with so much hope resting on her after spending nearly two years rehabilitating in the Los Angeles Zoo. May her soul soar in the skies over California.
Iniko’s bio on the Ventana Wildlife Society website:
2020 was a year of trials and tribulations and many of us identified with Iniko (1031), the condor chick that delighted viewers on our Condor Cam, powered by explore.org. Iniko means “born during troubled times” and was suggested by camera viewers after they saw all that she went through that year. It started off fine for Iniko (1031), snug in her redwood cavity under the care of the most prominent pair in the population. But the good times would not last.
The Dolan Fire swept through Big Sur on the night of August 21, 2020 taking the life of her father, Kingpin (167), and nine other free-flying condors. The flames were hot for Iniko (1031) as well, but she managed to survive in her cavernous nest. As her mother Redwood Queen (190) rose to the task of being a single parent, a new challenge emerged. An unmated male condor, Ninja (729), entered the nest, possibly seeing an opportunity to claim a vacant territory left open by the passing of Kingpin (167). Redwood Queen (190) rushed-in to defend her chick, and Iniko (1031) was force-fledged from the nest; falling to the ground during the scuffle. The entire story was told in our first documentary, Giants of Big Sur, Part Three, Born During Troubled Times.
Redwood Queen (190) chased off the intruder, but Iniko (1031)’s prospects seemed dim huddled there on the ground with only one parent. Our concern grew as time passed and the chick remained vulnerable, even showing a slight limp. The field crew moved in on October 19th and rescued Iniko (1031), hiking her carefully out of the canyon and transporting her to Los Angeles Zoo for treatment and care. Luckily, she sustained no long-term injuries, and Iniko (1031) was re-released back into the wild with two other female condors on December 4, 2021. Iniko (1031)’s story serves as a reminder that we, too, can make it through troubled times.
Since her return to the wild, Iniko (1031) has flourished. She seems to have bonded closely with the other female condors in her release cohort and spends most of her time foraging and flying with them over the scenic landscape of Pinnacles National Park.
Our Star, Iniko (1031) also appeared in our second film, Condor Canyon released in 2024. Now she’s of breeding age, with her head and neck (and eyes) are becoming the orange and pink hues of an adult! She is thriving and forming new connections with condors who could soon become her mate. One of these condors is Apollo (718), who Iniko (1031) has consistently been observed with in the early part of this year. We are excited to see where Iniko (1031) continues to journey as she reaches this new stage of life!
Iniko #1031 is an iconic California Condor. Some facts:
Iniko (California Condor #1031), whose name translates to “born during troubled times,” is a famous wild-hatched condor whose survival through multiple crises in Big Sur, California, captured global attention. One of the most famous was when she was a chick and survived in the natal Redwood tree while the fire took out the forest. Her mother Redwood Queen returned to rescue her daughter but Iniko was injured by a rival male and taken to the Los Angeles zoo.
Her life story is a dramatic timeline of resilience and conservation:
- April 2020: Hatched in a massive, ancient redwood tree in the Big Sur wilderness to parents Redwood Queen (#190) and Kingpin (#167).
- August 2020: Survived the devastating Dolan Fire, which burned through the condor sanctuary. While her nest tree survived and protected her, her father Kingpin went missing and is presumed dead.
- October 2020: Force-fledged after an aggressive, unmated male condor (Ninja) attacked the nest. Iniko fell to the forest floor and sustained a leg injury .
- October 2020: Rescued by field crews from the Ventana Wildlife Society and transported to the Los Angeles Zoo for veterinary care .
- December 4, 2021: Re-released back into the wild at San Simeon alongside two other female condors, Dian Fossey (#1011) and Rachel Carson (#1042), by the Ventana Wildlife Society.
- Present: After thriving and foraging in the wild, frequently spotted near Pinnacles National Park and the Central California coast, Iniko’s mortality monitor went off. She is presumed to have died from lead poisoning. Searches for her body are ongoing but the area is remote and rugged.
A video of Iniko’s rescue by Cali Condor: https://youtu.be/VzgVrPpaiwE?
A great film about the life of Iniko, “Surviving against all Odds”: https://youtu.be/0TDawpr5KPE?si=61C8o8qlmiUCVH_x
The June 25th Condor Chat reveals the death of Iniko and what can be done about lead poisoning. https://www.youtube.com/live/akoVgSzZ1x0?
They are working hard about issues related to hunting and fishing in California to change the use of lead. Ventana Wildlife even makes lead free ammuntion available at a reduced cost or free.
There is already a ban in California against the use of using lead. If you listen to the Condor Chat live, you will find out why there is still lead in the environment. The market is not supporting the switch to non-lead in all calibres.
This is a tragic loss that did not have to happen.
I want to thank the Ventana Wildlife Society for all they do to try and protect these most endangered birds that are crucial to our environment. Thank you to Cali Condor for the videos and the Ventana Wildlife Society for the videos and images.