A study conducted by wildlife experts showed that California condors, which are heavily endangered, can reproduce without mating. During a periodic analysis of biological samples from this type of vulture, experts at the San Diego Zoo's Wildlife Alliance found that two condor chicks emerged from unfertilized eggs. Cynthia Steiner, the co-director of the Wildlife Conservation Research Division at the alliance, stated, "This was a major surprise for the organization. We did not expect anything like this." She added, "This is a very rare discovery because it is not known in birds in general. This is something that happens in other organisms... in reptiles and fish, but it is very rare in birds, especially in wild species."
She noted, "It is strange because the two females that laid the two eggs were in a location housing capable males and had previously laid eggs through mating. It has never been confirmed before that asexual reproduction occurred in any bird species where males and females are present," as reported by Reuters. The zoo mentioned that these chicks are the first examples of asexual reproduction in this subspecies of California condors. California condors are among the rarest birds in the world, but their numbers are increasing, with approximately 500 condors, according to Steiner, around 200 of which live in captivity and 300 in the wild.
