Reasons for failure of establishing numerous Old World vulture populations in zoos

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Nikola Chavkosk

Well-Known Member
I was wondering myself, what were the reasons of that why were not established successfull, numerous populations of some vulture species in zoos, who initially had enough founder animals, yet such vulture species are simmilar with other whose populations stands good in zoos?

Eg. what were reasons for not-establishing successfull populations of:

1. Lappet-faced vulture (6 current, 32 former holders in Europe)

(Indian)
2. Red-headed vulture (Indian black vulture) (2 current, 18 former holders in Europe)
3. Indian white-rumped vulture (1 current-Romania, 29 former holders in Europe)


In comparassion to very simmilar species, whose populations stands good, at least in European zoos (ZTL):

1. Griffon Ruepell's vulture (71 current holders in Europe)
2. Western Eurasian griffon vulture (200 current holders in Europe)
3. African white-backed vultures (55 current holders in Europe)
4. Hooded vulture (70 current holders in Europe)
5. Palm nut vulture (36 current holders in Europe)
6. Western Egyptian vulture
7. Eurasian black vulture
8. Bearded vulture

What is the situation in USA, or in the World in general, with these species (Australia, Canada, Japan, India ....?)

Vultures that had no chance were those species with low founder numbers, like Indian vulture (long-billed vulture) (ZTL)

???
Some of the reasons could be: Lack of coordination between holding institutions, lack of special needs for species (like enough height-spaced enclosure, enclosure without heigh rocks or tall trees, innapropriate groupings, lack of taurine in the diet, lack of intense UV-radiation ??? !!)

For this thread I was inspired from the photo of lappet-faced vulture taken in Botswana, from Maguari (zoochatter), and the followed comments on that picture.
 
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It seems that these species of vultures, with featherless skin on the head/neck, go deeply in the carcasess to feed on liver for example; liver is richer on taurine than muscles; some birds feed their chicks with spiders (rich on taurine); and taurine is esential nutrient for growing animals (and particularly for felids); Are vultures from these species fed with enough liver-diet in zoos? This just like mine hypothesis. :rolleyes:
 
Batto said:
You forgot to mention: lack of capacity. As in many other zoo animals, less and less species are kept, and if at all, species with an international breeding program are favored over those without one when it comes to fill in any vacant "vulture" position.
Captive breeding of Egyptian vultures ? results from 2015 - Website of the Vulture Conservation Foundation
Intraspecific aggression, infertility due to aged populations, lack of popularity etc. might be other reasons...
Click to expand...

Thank you Batto
But zoos who keep well-represented species, may switch to the others.
 
Batto said:
:confused: I have a hard time understanding you.
Click to expand...

Batto I just wanted to wrote that there are 200 holders (Europe) for example of Western Eurasian griffon vultures, and some of them may phase-out the species, and move on with some more rare in captivity species, if the capacity of zoos is issue.

I am actually hard to understand anyway, it's not just you :)
 
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