Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago welcomed a cinereous vulture chick on May 7. It was the first successful cinereous vulture birth in 13 years at the zoo!
The baby vulture was born to parents Virginia and Leon. However, because Virginia and Leon are inexperienced parents who have not incubated an egg in the past, the Animal Care team put the egg in an incubator after it was laid.
The Animal Care team then monitored the egg through a process called candling. This means they shined a light on the egg in a dark place so they could see inside. They also took radiographs of the egg to ensure the chick was ready for hatching.
The chick is currently being cared for by Animal Care staff. Later, the chick will be raised by an experienced foster vulture at a different zoo.
“While we’d love for Chicagoans to meet this vulture chick, we’re grateful to have a dedicated zoo community and the opportunity for this chick to be raised by fosters,” said Hope B. McCormick Curator of Birds Nicole Finch-Mason.
In the wild, cinereous vultures live in Europe and Asia. They can weigh up to 12 kg (27 lb.) with a wingspan up to 10 feet. This makes them one of the heaviest and largest birds of prey in the world!
They are classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN, threatened by poisons and food scarcity.
Learn more at the Lincoln Park Zoo website.