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Lupine (597) tended to be more comfortable with what was familiar to her and became quite agitated in stressful situations. During one of her first trap-ups after release, she regurgitated several times while in the flight pen. Condors do this in times of stress and this reaction serves several purposes. It is a way to off-load some weight when predators approach and the condor needs to take flight, and it is also a distraction, since the regurgitated meat that is left behind may encourage the predator to take the free meal rather than pursue the condor. However, after this apparently stressful trap-up, Lupine (597) refused to leave the flight pen for several days, despite encouragement from our biologists.
The egg that would be Lupine (597) was laid in the wild by Condor 313 and Survivor (375). Due to concerns that her egg may have been thin-shelled, biologists swapped out the egg and transported it to captivity to be incubated artificially under special conditions. Her egg went on to hatch successfully and she was raised by foster parents at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. She was transferred to the Big Sur release site on November 20, 2012, and released with Tui-nu-nut (615) in Spring 2013. Lupine (597) almost always hung out around Big Sur with her close pal, Tui-nu-nut (615).
Later in her life she paired with resident San Simeon alpha male, Condor (566), and attempted to nest with him several times. This was the first time that condors had nested in San Luis Obispo County since their reintroduction. Unfortunately, both nests were unsuccessful which is common for new condor parents. We were hopeful, however, that she and Condor (566) would succeed given a few more tries. She had already showed great maternal instincts - more than once she was observed helping the nervous and confused newly-released condors find their way back to the release slope.
Unfortunately, her life was cut short when she was found drowned in an uncovered water tank. This was a monumental loss for the flock and she will be missed.
The egg that would be Lupine (597) was laid in the wild by Condor 313 and Survivor (375). Due to concerns that her egg may have been thin-shelled, biologists swapped out the egg and transported it to captivity to be incubated artificially under special conditions. Her egg went on to hatch successfully and she was raised by foster parents at the San Diego Wild Animal Park. She was transferred to the Big Sur release site on November 20, 2012, and released with Tui-nu-nut (615) in Spring 2013. Lupine (597) almost always hung out around Big Sur with her close pal, Tui-nu-nut (615).
Later in her life she paired with resident San Simeon alpha male, Condor (566), and attempted to nest with him several times. This was the first time that condors had nested in San Luis Obispo County since their reintroduction. Unfortunately, both nests were unsuccessful which is common for new condor parents. We were hopeful, however, that she and Condor (566) would succeed given a few more tries. She had already showed great maternal instincts - more than once she was observed helping the nervous and confused newly-released condors find their way back to the release slope.
Unfortunately, her life was cut short when she was found drowned in an uncovered water tank. This was a monumental loss for the flock and she will be missed.