#222 “Cosmo”
Sex: Female
Hatch Location & Date: San Diego Zoo, 4/17/2000
Release Date: 4/5/2001
Parents: #25 and #37
Cosmo's story is comparable to a television soap opera. She spends most of her time with large groups of condors and her affable nature and fun-loving ways meant that many male condors were interested in her when she matured. In 2008, she chose to pair with Condor #204 and they fostered Condor #470 together. Their partnership came to an end in 2010 when #204 was severely injured and had to be taken to the zoo for care and recovery. Even before #204's injuries, Condor #251 spent every spare moment hanging around Cosmo, waiting for his chance. #204's prolonged absence in the zoo resulted in Cosmo re-pairing with #251.
To add to the drama, Cosmo and #251 spent a lot of time with Condor #306, a female released from Pinnacles National Park. Cosmo had been seen holding out her wings and showing off around #306: this display is typically performed by male condors when courting females, but in this case, biologists suspect that Cosmo was just asserting her dominance over the younger female. The two ladies never showed jealousy over the split attentions of #251. The three condors, Cosmo, #251, and #306 formed a trio and raised Condor #664 and Condor #708. Both chicks' parents were #251 and #306 (determined using genetic information), but Cosmo dedicated her time to help raise each chick as well. Sadly, #306 died in 2013 (the cause was a strongly suspected case of lead poisoning) and although Cosmo and #251 continued to care for her chick, #708 died shortly after #306 did. Poor #222 was struck by tragedy again a few years later when her mate #251 died of lead poisoning. She has since repaired with Pinnacles Condor #351.
To add to the drama, Cosmo and #251 spent a lot of time with Condor #306, a female released from Pinnacles National Park. Cosmo had been seen holding out her wings and showing off around #306: this display is typically performed by male condors when courting females, but in this case, biologists suspect that Cosmo was just asserting her dominance over the younger female. The two ladies never showed jealousy over the split attentions of #251. The three condors, Cosmo, #251, and #306 formed a trio and raised Condor #664 and Condor #708. Both chicks' parents were #251 and #306 (determined using genetic information), but Cosmo dedicated her time to help raise each chick as well. Sadly, #306 died in 2013 (the cause was a strongly suspected case of lead poisoning) and although Cosmo and #251 continued to care for her chick, #708 died shortly after #306 did. Poor #222 was struck by tragedy again a few years later when her mate #251 died of lead poisoning. She has since repaired with Pinnacles Condor #351.
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