250th California Condor Chick Hatches At San Diego Zoo Safari Park

SAN DIEGO, CA — The 250th California condor has hatched at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, marking a major milestone for the critically endangered species.

The chick's parents are Mexwe and Xol-Xol — the first California condor brought into human care under the California Condor Recovery Program in 1982.

More than 40 years since the California condor population dropped to a low of just 22 birds, this milestone is a significant success, according to officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, a nonprofit conservation organization that operates the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park.

"Reaching this milestone feels incredible," said Nora Willis, senior wildlife care specialist for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. "Seeing the success that the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has had — and the success of the California Condor Recovery Program as a whole — is really inspiring. There's still a long way to go, but being part of this and helping the species recover is life changing."

Before hatching, the egg was placed in an incubator to be closely monitored. Due to a suspected malposition, the egg was taken to Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center at the Safari Park for imaging. After examining the results, the team determined the chick's position was not of concern. The chick successfully pipped and was returned to its parents for hatching.

The pair's nest was equipped with infrared cameras, allowing the team to monitor the hatching process. The chick, whose sex is not yet determined, hatched in the early morning hours of March 16 with help from its parents. It was named Emaay, pronounced "eh-my," a Kumeyaay word for "sky." Xol-Xol's name means "one of the sky people" in Chumash.

Xol-Xol, the chick's father, is one of the last 22 condors remaining in 1982. Xol-Xol was 3 months old when he was rescued from the Sespe Condor Sanctuary after being neglected by his parents, who were still rearing a chick from the previous year.

Xol-Xol, pronounced "hole-hole," made his home at the Safari Park as the first California condor brought into human care under the California Condor Recovery Program. Xol-Xol has fathered 41 chicks since 1993, and many of those chicks have been reintroduced into their native habitat, according to the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. Emaay is expected to join the native population in 2025.

In 1982, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance was given permission to begin the first zoological propagation program for California condors. Today, there are more than 560 living California condors, with over half free flying.