Hooray for Harry!!
Posted at 6:31 pm March 20, 2006 by Valerie StoddardA quick update about Harry, the California condor, for all of you who have been waiting to hear:
The Phoenix Zoo contacted us last week to let us know that he had his esophagostomy tube removed. An esophagostomy tube is a small food tube that enters the esophagus, or “crop” (the crop is a modification of the esophagus used primarily for storage and softening of food in birds, so that food can be delivered to the stomach). His crop is again functioning normally, which is allowing him to eat on his own and gain weight. Some of the best news we received is that his blood is normalizing and the lead is almost completely purged from his system. The transfusion and treatment is working just as we all had hoped. Veterinarians are very optomistic for a full recovery and of releasing Harry back into the wild. Can you see us all smiling? 
)
Thanks to the Wild Animal Park’s own Dr. Jeff Zuba, who has remained in contact with Phoenix Zoo veterinarians and kept me, and ultimately all of you, up to date on his progress. And, gratitude and appreciation also goes to Phoenix Zoo veterinary staff. They have given Harry the possibility of a second chance to once again soar majestically over the beautiful Grand Canyon, healthy and free as he had for a decade prior to his illness.
As always, we appreciate all of you for your continued concern and support for the California Condor Recovery Program. Look for more condor stories in upcoming blogs, including the latest by Joy DiGenti about our newest member of the condor program.
Valerie Stoddard is the senior administrative assistant at the Wild Animal Park’s Harter Veterinary Medical Center.
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March 21st, 2006 at 6:17 am
Yeah!!!!! Just the news we’ve been waiting for. Thanks so much, Valerie, for the update on our wonderful Harry. Would it be possible to get a picture of him for the website before he’s released? Would be great to put a face with the “name” - hee hee! Way to go, Harry - fly happy!
March 21st, 2006 at 8:59 am
I am, as always, amazed and heartened by the dedication of zoo staff. The California condor would be gone were it not for the tireless efforts of the San Diego Zoo (as well as others). I still recall the first time I saw one of these amazing birds - at the Wild Animal Park. Thank you so much for all that you do, every day you fight to keep species from disappearing. It is much appreciated.
March 21st, 2006 at 9:18 am
Hooray for Harry, Indeed! That is fabulous news! Thanks for keeping us “in the loop”, Valerie and Dr. Zuba.
March 21st, 2006 at 11:46 am
Bravo! I might have missed this information–but do you know the source of the lead? Is this because he ate something that had been shot with lead buckshot, or some other environmental source? Just wondering . . . Thanks again.
March 21st, 2006 at 1:02 pm
There are many theories about how this happens, but lead from bullets in dead animal carcasses is often the cause. Unfortunately we’re unable to confirm exactly where the lead came from.
March 21st, 2006 at 5:01 pm
Valerie, thank you so much for bringing us the good news about Harry. And thanks to the whole team, the Phoenix Zoo staff, Dr. Zuba and the Harter medical staff, and especially to Simerrye, the conder who donated the life-saving blood for Harry. I hope he (she?) has some inkling of how special that was!! And a hearty welcome to the newly hatched condor chick. May it be the first of many more this season!
March 21st, 2006 at 8:02 pm
Thanks for responding so quickly with that info, Valerie.
Let me add that my husband and I went to San Diego last weekend (from our home in the California central coast) specifically to see the pandas and the other animals I’ve been following on the webcams and the keeper blogs. These blogs and the other features on the SD Zoo website are so wonderful for those of us far from zoos–and for people who find it hard to get out and about, I also recommend the site for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, another terrific place to learn about animals and plants!
March 22nd, 2006 at 7:28 am
How wonderful!! I must confess I was preparing for the worst news, knowing what lead poisoning can do both mentally and physically. May Harry soon know the joy of soaring the thermals once again.
March 22nd, 2006 at 5:27 pm
Our prayers for Harry have been answered thanks to a dedicated staff at the Wild Animal Park and Phoenix Zoo. Could we have a photo of Harry when he is released? Seeing him soar again at Grand Canyon would be a beautiful sight to behold. What is the life expectancy of a condor? We were also excited to hear of the 128th condor hatch.
Editor’s note: California condors can live up to 60 years. For more information about these birds, visit the Animal Bytes section of our Web site.