Two male vultures at Beekse Bergen adopt chick from Blijdorp

Two male white-backed vultures at Safaripark Beekse Bergen have become adoptive parents of a chick from Blijdorp Zoo. The animal was born in Blijdorp and was placed with the pair of vultures in Beekse Bergen six days later. The males took care of the young, contributing to the preservation of this endangered species.

Vultures play a crucial role in the ecosystem as carcass cleaners, preventing the spread of disease and recycling nutrients. Unfortunately, their survival is threatened, in part because poachers poison carcasses to avoid detection of their activities. Of some species, only three percent of the original population remains. Zoos worldwide, including Blijdorp Zoo and Safaripark Beekse Bergen, are therefore working to build a healthy reserve population.

Kris Jansen, head of animal care at Beekse Bergen, explains, "Many vulture species are doing poorly. The survival of a young depends on a dedicated couple that breeds well and raises the chick with care. Not every couple is suitable for this. This is why zoos work together in a management program: to increase the chances that as many young as possible are raised successfully."

Successful adoption

Vultures usually lay one egg per season, but when it is lost, the pair often lays a second egg. That's why caretakers remove the first egg to hatch in the incubator at Blijdorp Zoo, allowing the parents to lay a second egg and increasing the chances of this endangered species having multiple young.

The male vultures Aziz and Kadir had formed a close pair in Safaripark for quite some time and built several nests together. When they received an artificial egg, they immediately took care of it. This provided the ideal opportunity to bring the chick from Blijdorp safely into their care. "At first they reacted expectantly, but after we put eggshells in the nest, they accepted the young completely. They regurgitated food and started feeding it with great care," Jansen said. "The chick is doing extremely well. It's also enriching for the male vultures to be able to raise this young."

Population recovery

There was also a successful adoption two years ago thanks to cooperation between the two parks: a pair of Griffon vultures at Safaripark adopted a chick from Blijdorp at that time. This previous success underscores the effectiveness of the method and the commitment of both parks to the conservation of endangered vultures.

The adoption of the young white-backed vulture further increases the chances of a healthy, genetically diverse population. Says Jansen, "We hope that eventually this youngster may even contribute to the recovery of the population in the wild."