geomorph

Western Egyptian Vulture

  • Media owner geomorph
  • Date added
Taken June 2015.
I'm trying to remember if I've seen this species elsewhere and I can't think of any except Dallas Zoo perhaps, so it may be uncommon in U.S. zoos.
 
They're not exactly common in European zoos but both Eastern and Western subspecies are about in numbers (the Western is found wild in southern Europe, of course).
 
Prague zoo is the studbook keeper in Europe.

This species has some downsides when compared with more common vulture species in zoos, I think, and that prohibits it to spread more widely. They can´t breed in colonies (which are attractive to average zoo visitor) and they are not fully hardy in our Central European winters (need heated space).

The zoo population is not breeding well so far, but increased cooperation and exchange of experience is paying off and number of hatched chicks is growing.

One reintroduction program runs in south Italy, and first chicks from european zoos have been released there last year.
 
Are these common in captivity?

In the United States, there are just five institutions with them:
San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Dallas Zoo
World Bird Sanctuary
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Denver Zoo

The first three only have one individual each. I am not sure about the populations of the other two institutions.
 

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San Diego Zoo Safari Park
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