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condors continued Maria (below left) and Dino (above) were
introduced to each other this past December.
“It depends on the year, how many chicks
are hatched that year, and what genes are “When you have a chick born under
well-represented in institutions at that time,” professionally managed care and would like to
Snyder said. “In order to maintain healthy release it, having its parents raise it would put
populations in institutions, we need to be that bird at a huge disadvantage,” Snyder said.
sure we maintain genetic diversity among “The parents are comfortable with people,
birds under professionally managed care, so and so they would teach it that people are
that determines what birds we can release.” OK. This would not help a bird in the wild.”
The chicks that are chosen for the The animal care specialists at the San
program are sent to the San Diego Zoo Diego Zoo wear an Andean condor hand
shortly after birth—the San Diego Zoo puppet while interacting with the chicks
coordinates the Andean Condor SSP and has to keep them from imprinting on people.
an appropriate facility and specially trained They are taught to exhibit healthy, natural
staff to raise the chicks. This is a departure behaviors that allow them to thrive when
from the typical two years a chick would they are released—which has been evidenced
spend with its parents, but for good reason. by the success of the program so far.
16 GATEWAYS | FLIGHT OF THE CONDORS Regardless of what the future holds for
our condors, Society staff are excited about
all the possibilities that exist because of our
new pairing and, for now, look forward
to seeing Maria and Dino’s bond develop
further over the coming months. █
