Study finds California condors can have ‘virgin births’

A California condor takes flight in the Ventana Wilderness east of Big Sur (AP)

Endangered California condors can have “virgin births”, according to a new study.

Researchers at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said genetic testing confirmed that two male chicks hatched in 2001 and 2009 from unfertilised eggs were only related to their mothers. Neither was related to a male.