In a promising start to the new year, the first California condor egg of 2024 arrived at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation on January 22. Condors No. 189 and 544 are the proud parents of this egg, marking their first breeding success together.

With only around 500 California condors left in the world, every egg is crucial for the species’ survival. Senior condor keeper Kelli Walker expressed excitement for the upcoming breeding season, as all 14 pairs at the conservation center have successfully raised chicks in the past.

The California condor, once on the brink of extinction with just 22 individuals left in the wild in 1982, has made a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts like those at the Oregon Zoo. Now, most of the world’s condors are flying free, a testament to the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programs.

[Note: no sound]

In a promising start to the new year, the first California condor egg of 2024 arrived at the Oregon Zoo’s Jonsson Center for Wildlife Conservation on January 22. Condors No. 189 and 544 are the proud parents of this egg, marking their first breeding success together.

With only around 500 California condors left in the world, every egg is crucial for the species’ survival. Senior condor keeper Kelli Walker expressed excitement for the upcoming breeding season, as all 14 pairs at the conservation center have successfully raised chicks in the past.

The California condor, once on the brink of extinction with just 22 individuals left in the wild in 1982, has made a remarkable recovery thanks to conservation efforts like those at the Oregon Zoo. Now, most of the world’s condors are flying free, a testament to the success of captive breeding and reintroduction programs.