Earlier this month, wildlife enthusiasts were excited by the young bald eagle floating above Big Bear Lake and popping out of its nest for the first time.
The focus is on ten condor chicks hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo this week, and are eligible to be released into the wild to restore the state’s depleted condor population.
“This year’s chicks will ultimately help to increase genetic diversity in wild condor populations,” said Dennis Verrett, CEO and Director of the Los Angeles Zoo, in a news release. “This iconic species represents a conservation victory for Los Angeles and California.”
According to the release, four chicks are raised in a double-protruding manner. The Los Angeles Zoo was the first zoo to use this breeding technique.
“Lazzo’s leadership in California’s breeding clearly shows the marriage of conservation and animal care,” said Misha Bodhi, assistant director of the Los Angeles Zoo’s Animal Program, in the release. “The care and well-being provided by our animal care team continues to be innovative and promotes the success of our Condor Program every year.”
All chicks raised at the zoo are eligible for release into the wild as part of the zoo’s California Condor Recovery Program, but some of them could be suppressed for future breeding, the release says.
Condors are threatened by lead poisoning and other toxins. According to a 2022 survey, there were 40 DDT-related compounds (chemicals that go from contaminated marine life to the top of the food chain are found in the blood of wild California condors).
When California’s Condor Recovery Program began 40 years ago, there were only 22 California condors remaining on the planet. As of 2024, there are 561 condors and 344 live in the wild. This species is very extinct.
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