In a monumental achievement for wildlife conservation, the California condor has experienced a banner year at the LA Zoo. After an absence of a century from California’s redwood forests, the majestic bird, with its impressive 10-foot wingspan and distinctive white wing patches, has made a triumphant return to the region thanks to dedicated breeding and releasing efforts. This year, the LA Zoo’s program has set a new record with the birth of 17 California condor chicks.
Once thriving across the western states, the California condor faced severe declines throughout the 19th and 20th centuries due to hunting, habitat destruction, pesticides, and lead poisoning. By 1982, only 22 of these magnificent birds remained. However, a robust conservation strategy over the past fifty years has dramatically improved their fortunes, with the population now standing at 561 birds.
The LA Zoo has employed innovative methods to boost the condor population. While wild condors typically raise only one chick at a time, the zoo’s team has explored new approaches to encourage higher breeding success. In 2017, they experimented with allowing condor parents to raise two eggs. Building on this, in 2023, they tried raising three eggs per pair. This year, the results were remarkable: six chicks were raised in trios, eight in pairs, and three as single offspring.
These 17 chicks will spend approximately a year and a half at the zoo, learning vital survival skills from their parents. Following this period, they will be evaluated for their readiness to be released into the wild, where they will contribute to the ongoing recovery of their species.
Currently, 344 of the 561 California condors are living in the wild, reflecting a significant recovery. Despite some losses, the success of the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP) is evident. The CCRP collaborates with zoos, tribal nations, and non-profits to secure a stable future for these critically endangered birds. Although avian flu poses a new threat, the newborns will be vaccinated to enhance their chances of survival as they eventually take flight in their natural habitats.
The birth of 17 California condor chicks at the LA Zoo this year not only marks a historic high but also symbolizes hope for the revival of this endangered species.
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