Four Condors flying over Big Sur just south of Deetjen's Big Sur Inn on 10/9/2007. At the turn of the century, the California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) population began to plummet after decades of wanton shooting and poisoning. In 1987, the last wild condor was taken into captivity to join 26 others. Successful captive breeding dramatically increases the population size of this endangered species. Since 1995 the wild population of condors has dramatically increased, thanks to the efforts of all Recovery Program participants.