Prague zookeepers have taken an innovative approach to care for a newly hatched lesser yellow-headed vulture chick. The bird, currently three weeks old, is being nurtured with the help of a puppet designed to imitate its parent. The use of this technique follows the disappearance of a dummy egg from the nest, indicating that the parent vultures were not prepared to care for their two chicks.
According to bird keeper Antonín Vaidl, the puppet feeding method is essential to prevent the chick from imprinting on humans. He noted that while the puppet does not need to be an exact replica of an adult vulture, it should exhibit certain features, such as the pale orange coloration on the chick’s featherless head and neck, which elicits a response from the young bird.
Unique Care for Endangered Species
The lesser yellow-headed vulture is native to regions in Latin America and Mexico. The Prague Zoo is one of only three zoos in Europe engaged in the breeding of this species. This latest effort reflects the zoo’s ongoing commitment to preserving endangered birds. The institution has previously employed similar techniques successfully, notably with the critically endangered Javan green magpie and two chicks of the rhinoceros hornbill.
Vaidl expressed optimism regarding the effectiveness of the puppet method, stating, “The method has been working well. We’ll see what happens with the vultures.” Another egg in the nest is expected to hatch in the coming days, which may further complicate the care for the chicks.
The use of puppets in avian care highlights the dedication of zookeepers at Prague Zoo to ensure the survival of vulnerable species while maintaining their natural behaviors. By employing such creative solutions, the zoo aims to provide the best possible outcome for these delicate creatures.
