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Condors from the Los Angeles Zoo
Of the six pair of condors that will be coming to Oregon, three pair are from the Los Angeles Zoo. This group of six condors features some notable personalities as well as some up-and-coming stars in the condor-breeding program.
Tama
The star of the show is Tama, a female founder bird that possesses plenty of fire and spunk. Tama was captured from the wild in 1985 as part of an operation to save the California condor population, which was estimated at only 17 left in the wild. Her age is estimated at about 30 years old. She is large for a California condor, weighing 24 pounds.
As a bird from the wild, Tama is extremely valuable as a breeding founder bird. During her time in the captive rearing program, Tama has proven a capable and willing mother, laying numerous eggs and successfully raising many chicks. It is important for baby condors to have a good adult role model because chicks pattern their behavior after adults. Tama’s experience in the wild allows her to teach her chicks how to survive once they are released. Tama likes new places, which has helped facilitate her child-rearing efforts in captivity.
Tama is also known for her attitude and the way she throws her weight around. She has built a reputation as a girl who likes her space. She never shies from conflict with other female birds, and usually comes out on top. Tama prefers younger men, as her mate Mandan is only 14 years old. However, in spite of her age advantage and strong personality, Mandan is still in charge.
Tama facts
Female
Hatch date January 1, 1976 (approx)
Hatched in wild
Captured from wild and living at Los Angeles Zoo since September 6, 1985
Weight 24 lbs.
Mate is Mandan
She has produced 11 chicks with Mandan and at least 6 in the wild
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Mandan
As is the case in the wild, male condors run the show. Mandan is no exception as he quietly maintains order in his own laid-back and relaxed way. He was puppet-reared as the child of a wild bird, making Mandan first generation out of the wild.
Mandan facts
Male
Hatch date April 19, 1989
Hatched in captive at San Diego Zoo
Hand Reared
Living at LA Zoo since December 11, 1989
Weight 20.5 lbs
Mate is Tama
He has produced 11 chicks with Tama
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137
The second pair of condors coming from Los Angeles consists numbers 137 and 147. Neither of the birds in this young couple have names yet, but are beginning to develop personalities as they grow older. As of this year, 137 and 147 are first time parents and have risen to the challenge of condor parenthood. After laying their first egg, the female was given a dummy egg to sit on as her real egg spent time in an incubator. After 11 days of sitting on the egg, she was given the baby with open wings after it hatched to see how she would respond. Mother and father welcomed the baby with open wings and have done a superb job of raising the chick. With this kind of willingness on the part of these condors, there is much hope they will develop into a valuable breeding team.
137 facts
Male
Hatch date May 4, 1996
Hatched in captive at San Diego Wild Animal Park
Hand reared
Living at LA Zoo since April 9, 1997
Weight 18.3 lbs
Mate is 147
Foster-reared one chick with 147 in 2003
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147
147 facts
Female
Hatch date April 26, 1996
Hatched in captive at San Diego Wild Animal Park
Hand reared
Living at Los Angeles Zoo since April 8, 1997
Weight 22.5 lbs
Mate is 137
Foster-reared one chick with 137 in 2003
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Mali
The third pair from Los Angeles consists of a couple of youngsters, Mali and his mate 174. These condors are still developing personality as they mature. They were born in ‘96 and ’98 and still have no adult coloring. California condors are not fully developed until they are about six years old. Until then, these youngsters will have no feather coloring or obvious personality. It remains to be seen whether or not this couple will be as natural at parenting as 137 and 147.
Mali facts
Male
Hatch date June 15, 1996
Hatched in captive at Los Angeles Zoo
Hand reared
Lived in wild from January 14 to June 4 1997
Living at Los Angeles Zoo since June 4, 1997
Weight 18.5 lbs
Mate is 174
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174
174 facts
Female
Hatch date March 4, 1998
Hatched in captive at San Diego Wild Animal Park
Hand Reared
Lived in wild from March 24 to May 17 1999
Living at LA Zoo since August 2, 1999
Weight 18 lbs
Mate is Mali
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Condors from the San Diego Wild Animal Park
Ojai
Ojai facts
Female
Hatch date April 11, 1984
Hatched in captive at San Diego Wild Animal Park
Hand reared
Living at San Diego Wild Animal Park since April 11, 1984
Will be paired with Atishwin from Boise
To date she has produced 15 chicks with a different mate
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Woy
Woy facts
Male
Hatch date May 1, 1992
Hatched in captive at San Diego Wild Animal Park
Parent reared
Living at San Diego Wild Animal Park since hatching
Will be paired with Wiloq (159)
This male has produced 3 chicks with a different mate
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Wiloq
Wiloq Facts
Female
Hatch date April 8, 1997
Hatched in captive at Los Angeles Zoo
Hand reared
Living at San Diego Wild Animal Park since August 19, 1997
Mate is Woy
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Paxa
Paxa Facts
Male
Hatch date January 1, 1981 (approx)
Hatched in wild
Captured from wild and kept at Los Angeles Zoo on December 5, 1982
Living at San Diego Wild Animal Park since August 29, 1984
Mate is Sawlu (172)
This male has produced 20 chicks with a different mate
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Sawlu
Sawlu facts
Female
Hatch date May 31, 1997
Hatched in captive at Los Angeles Zoo
Hand reared
Living at San Diego Wild Animal Park since July 3, 1997
Mate is Paxa
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Condor from Peregrine Fund in Boise
Atishwin
Atishwin facts
Male
Hatch date April 18, 1992
Hatched in captive at Los Angeles Zoo
Hand reared
Living at Peregrine Fund since November 3, 1994
Mate is Ojai
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