New Discovery | California condor that reproduces asexually

Recently, American zoologists conducted a genetic test on the critically endangered California condor and accidentally discovered two young birds hatched from unfertilized chicks eggs. This means that California condors can reproduce without mating. This situation is very rare in birds.
Due to illegal hunting and habitat destruction, the California condor, as the largest bird in North America, currently has only about 500 under the conservation plan of the United States.
However, recently an environmental expert conducted a routine analysis of biological samples of California condors at the San Diego Zoo and found that two young birds were hatched from unfertilized eggs.
This situation is very rare, because birds rarely have this phenomenon. San Diego Zoo Wildlife Federation research expert Sterner pointed out, “This phenomenon has also appeared in other species, such as reptiles and fish, but in birds Especially rare in wild species."
What surprised the researchers even more was that the mothers of these two young birds lived with the male birds and gave birth to eagles through normal fertilization. Therefore, this is not only the first discovery that California condors can reproduce asexually, but also the first time experts have realized that female birds can still reproduce asexually if they have a mate.
Steiner said: "We will continue to understand and evaluate the situation about vultures. The problem now is that maybe this will only occur when the number of vultures is particularly small.
However, the two chicks born in 2001 were both low-weight, and later lived to 2 and 8 years old respectively, and most of the bald eagles can live to about 50 years old. When the number of California condors steadily increases, researchers will continue to observe whether asexual reproduction will continue.