LA Zoo’s Condor Breeding Breakthrough: Record 17 Chicks Hatch in Historic Season.

In a feather-ruffling triumph, the Los Angeles Zoo has smashed its own record for California condor hatchlings, welcoming 17 adorable—if somewhat awkward—newcomers to the world in 2024. The zoo’s achievement marks a significant milestone in the California Condor Recovery Program (CCRP), which is dedicated to preventing the extinction of America’s largest flying bird.

The impressive hatchling count surpassed the previous record of 15, set way back in 1997. The 17th chick, a vibrant symbol of the zoo’s dedication, hatched in June and is flourishing under the watchful eyes of the zoo’s expert team. These "ugly-cute" chicks, as dubbed by the LA Times, are set to play a crucial role in bolstering the condor population and restoring the species to its natural habitat.

Rose Legato, Curator of Birds at the LA Zoo, proudly declared, “Our condor team has raised the bar once again in the collaborative effort to save America’s largest flying bird from extinction.” This season’s success is a testament to innovative breeding techniques pioneered by the zoo. In 2017, the zoo introduced a groundbreaking method by placing two condor chicks with a surrogate condor. This year, they went a step further, allowing a single female condor to raise three chicks simultaneously—a feat never before attempted.

This “triple brooding” technique significantly boosts the zoo’s capacity to nurture more condors with minimal human intervention, ensuring the birds are better prepared for life in the wild. The program’s expansion means breeding pairs can now produce multiple viable eggs each season, enhancing the overall success of the recovery efforts.

The LA Zoo’s condor breeding initiative began in 1967 with a lone condor named Topa Topa, rescued as a fledgling in poor condition. At that time, there were just 22 California condors left on Earth. The captive breeding program, launched in 1983 by the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Fish and Game Commission, has since grown to encompass a global population of 561 condors, with 344 living in the wild as of December 2023.

California condors are North America’s largest land birds, with wingspans nearing 10 feet. They can soar up to 15,000 feet and travel 150 miles a day, using their exceptional eyesight to locate food. As scavengers, they play a vital role in nature’s cleanup crew, consuming the carcasses of large mammals and marine creatures.

For the next year and a half, the zoo’s latest batch of chicks will be under close observation before their potential release into the wild, following in the footsteps of 250 condors raised at the zoo over the years. This continued effort is essential for ensuring the survival and thriving of this majestic species.

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