Non-lead ammunition required to protect condors

Non-lead ammunition required to protect condors

Feb 2007 - Tejon Ranch 
Corporation announced Friday that non-lead ammunition will be 
required for all hunting and predator control on the 270,000 
acre Tejon Ranch starting this fall, to protect the endangered 
California condors who forage in critical condor habitat on 
the ranch. 
The switch to non-lead ammunition will reduce the threat of 
lead poisoning, which is the leading cause of death for 
reintroduced condors, still teetering on the brink of 
extinction. 
"We applaud Tejon Ranch's decision to get the lead out for 
condors, and if the state's largest private landholder can go 
lead-free, then the rest of California should be able to 
follow suit," said Jeff Miller with the Center for Biological 
Diversity. 
The California condor was so close to extinction in 1987 that 
the last five wild birds were then rounded up to start a 
captive breeding program. The government began releasing 
condors in 1992, and there are now about 130 condors in the 
wild, 68 of them in California. 
Of 127 condors released in California from 1992 through 2006, 
46 birds died or disappeared and are presumed dead. Scientists 
say poisoning from scavenging carcasses tainted by lead 
ammunition is likely responsible for many of the deaths. 
But while they are pleased with the new lead-free ammunition 
rule, condor conservationists worry that residential and 
industrial development planned for Tejon Ranch will destroy 
and disturb the recovery of these giant scavangers. 
The planned Tejon Mountain Village would convert 38,500 acres 
of oak-studded mesas and canyons in the Tehachapi mountains — 
much of which is designated critical habitat for the condor - 
into luxury homes, golf courses, commercial space and hotels. 
The proposed 11,000 acre city of Centennial would add 23,000 
houses in the southern Tehachapis, in habitat for other 
imperiled wildlife. 
These developments would introduce thousands of buildings, 
roads, people, vehicles and pets into what is now a largely 
undeveloped and natural landscape. Tejon Ranch is seeking an 
unprecedented federal permit to "take" condors in their 
development plans. In this context, "take" means to kill, 
harass or harm. 
In May 2006, Tejon Ranch announced the signing of a joint 
venture agreement with DMB Associates of Scottsdale, Arizona 
to jointly develop the Tejon Mountain Village. 
"Tejon Mountain Village has all the ingredients for success," 
said Drew Brown, managing director and CEO of DMB Associates, 
Inc said in May 2006. "It's located just an hour or so north 
of Los Angeles, the landscape and views are spectacular and 
the environmentally sensitive plan respects the land. Together 
with Tejon Ranch Company, we're looking forward to turning 
this wonderful location into a special place where residents 
and guests can enjoy this beautiful natural setting." 
The development of Tejon Mountain Village is part of the Tejon 
Ranch Vision, or master plan for the future of the Ranch. The 
Tejon Ranch Vision begins with conservation, which is 
represented by the 100,000 acre Tejon Ranch Preserve the Ranch 
unveiled in June 2005 with its conservation partner, The Trust 
for Public Land. 
In addition to Tejon Mountain Village, Tejon's master plan for 
the development of its landholdings includes expansion of 
Tejon Industrial Complex. 
Center biologist Ileene Anderson said, "Tejon's proposed 
28,500 acre Tejon Mountain Village will devastate the heart of 
the condor's critical habitat."

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