San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance has welcomed the 250th California condor to hatch at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. The chick’s parents are Xol-Xol and Mexwe, 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. The egg was closely monitored before hatching, with a suspected malposition requiring a CT scan at the Paul Harter Veterinary Medical Center. After examining the results, the chick’s position was determined to not be of concern. The chick successfully pipped and was returned to Xol-Xol and Mexwe for hatching. The pair’s nest is equipped with infrared cameras, allowing the team to monitor the hatching process around the clock. The chick, whose sex is not yet determined, hatched in the early morning hours of March 16 with the assistance of its very attentive parents and is doing well under their care. It was given the name Emaay (pronounced “eh-my”), a Kumeyaay word for “sky.” Xol-Xol’s name means “one of the sky people” in Chumash. Xol-Xol, one of the last 22 condors remaining in 1982, was rescued from the Sespe Condor Sanctuary at three months old after being neglected by his parents, who were still rearing a chick from the previous year. He made his home at the San Diego Zoo 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. Emaay is expected to join the native population in 2025. Xol-Xol, one of the last 22 condors remaining in 1982, was rescued as a neglected chick. Since then, he has fathered 41 chicks, contributing significantly to the species' recovery. Emaay is expected to join the wild population in 2025, continuing the conservation efforts for this endangered species.