We Love Animals
Animals

Zoo Atlanta Happily Celebrates The Hatching Of A Critically Endangered Hooded Vulture

As our planet is gradually losing its abundance and natural beauty, we are always happy to hear any news related to the birth of an endangered species. Recently, Zoo Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia has just welcomed another newborn baby hooded vulture into their big family, and the zookeepers aren’t the only ones who are excited to meet this special little guy.


Image credits: Zoo Atlanta

It has been one year since the zoo celebrated the first successful hatching of a hooded vulture last summer, but this kind of experience is still quite new for dad Tai and mom Acacia somehow. Given this species’s critically endangered status, the zoo’s Bird Team has no choice but to step in to help the new parents again with their second chick.

Their job includes artificially incubating the egg (while Tai and Acacia practice incubating on their nest with some dummy eggs) and hand-rearing the chick until it is about 4 days old.


Image credits: Zoo Atlanta

Check out this amusing video below to learn more about hand-rearing at Zoo Atlanta and see how it helped with Tai and Acacia’s first hooded vulture chick last year:

When they are sure that the newborn has a good feeding response and gains weight steadily, the Bird Team handed it back to Acacia who has been improving her mothering skills fabulously. They can’t say the same about Tai though, since he has been quite busy rolling dummy eggs off their nest lately. So, for the sake of the infant, Tai has been temporarily removed from the nest and will be reintroduced to Acacia and their chick soon whenever they are all ready.


Image credits: Zoo Atlanta

The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is native to sub-Saharan Africa. Its name comes from a small patch of downy feathers that runs from its neck to its head, making this bird look like it is wearing a whitish hood all the time. Like any other vulture, this predatory bird scavenges on carrion.

Because of this species’ speedy population reduction over the past decades, the hooded vulture has been listed as critically endangered by the IUCN. The most common threats include poisoning, hunting, habitat loss and degradation of habitat.

Please share zoo Atlanta’s delightful news with your loved ones!

H/T: Zoo Atlanta

Related posts

A Clowder of 7 Baby Wild Felines and Their Mom Sneak Into A Man’s Porch And Play Here

Margot Nolan

Snow Leopard Mama Pretends To Be Scared When Her Cub Practices Sneaking Up On Her

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Photos That Show Pets Make Our Lives Just As Fun And Loving

Carolyn Mullet

20+ Animals Who Sleep Like There’s No Tomorrow

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Of The Funniest Animal Fails Ever

Carolyn Mullet

20 Pets With Vitiligo That Are More Awesome Than You Think

Carolyn Mullet

Abused Blind Elephant Got Rescued And Found Love In Her New Family

Margot Nolan

10+ Pets Who Have No Sense Of Their Owners’ Personal Boundaries

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Animals Who Can Brighten Up Our Lives With Their Charm

Carolyn Mullet

10+ Pet Photos That Can Fill You With Love And Laughter

Carolyn Mullet

Covered With The Beautiful Shade Of Blue Gemstone, Black-Naped Monarch Is Worth Your Attention

Margot Nolan

20 Pets Who Can Put Happiness In Your Pockets

Carolyn Mullet