Updated: Tue Jun. 24 2008 10:27:49

ctvwinnipeg.ca

A pair of elderly eagles at the Assiniboine Park Zoo has hatched and is raising two chicks, astounding staff and wildlife experts.

The pair, believed to be into their 40's is breaking species breeding records.

The zoo says it's rare for an eagle to live to 30-years-old, let alone live to 40 and still be breeding. A 40-year-old eagle is the equivalent of a 110 year-old human. The zoo says the eagles at the Assiniboine Park Zoo undoubtedly hold the world species record for breeding.

"This is probably a world record. That's a guess, but I would bet on it," said David Curtis, who takes care of native animals at the zoo.

The pair arrived at the zoo in 1973-74. They were at least five years old at the time because their heads were already white. They were injured and could not be released back into the wild. Manitoba Conservation donated one of the eagles; the other came from the Calgary Zoo.

It took nine years for the pair to finally produce offspring. Since then the eagles have produced 23 babies, which have been placed in other zoos across Canada and around the world.

They eaglets hatched June 4 and June 7, and Curtis said the chances look good that the babies will survive to adulthood.

"This pair has been great for the zoo, and other zoo throughout the world," he said.