Welcome to Los Angeles! Our city has some new locals in town — five baby condors! Amidst ongoing challenges faced by the overall condor population, the arrival of these Angeleno chicks brings hope for the species’ future.
The news was announced earlier this month on April 8 by the LA Zoo, sharing that the first egg was laid in early January, followed by the hatching of the first chick on March 1, with four more chicks hatching over the past few weeks. According to our local zoo, a total of approximately 16 eggs have been laid so far this year.
“Our condor pairs here are having a pretty epic egg laying season so far, and they are not done yet,” said Mike Clark, Condor Keeper, Los Angeles Zoo. “We are seeing excellent fertility in the eggs produced so far, and we expect 4 to 5 more eggs before the 2024 laying season is over.”
Why is this such incredible news? Well, as of December 2023, the global population of California condors stands at 561, with 344 residing in their natural habitats. This number is impacted by various factors, including habitat degradation, pesticide exposure, ingestion of micro trash, and most significantly, lead poisoning from the consumption of lead bullet fragments or shot pellets present in animal carcasses. Additionally, the emergence of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) poses a growing threat to the species’ survival in recent years.
“The California Condor Recovery Program is a critical and highly successful component within the Zoo’s Conservation Strategic Plan,” said Dr. Jake Owens, Director of Conservation, Los Angeles Zoo.”As a conservation organization, we are not only focused on saving endangered wildlife in far-off habitats around the globe, but also species that are right here in our own backyard. The last thirty years has confirmed that by breeding and raising condors into adolescents here at the Los Angeles Zoo, we are giving them the best chance of survival after their release into the wild.”
This event highlights the zoo’s commitment to conservation and serves as a reminder of the importance of protecting these birds for future generations. With continued care and support, the condor chicks are poised to thrive and contribute to the recovery of their species.