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Location:

Predator Passage, across from lions

Ruppell Griffon Vulture

  • *New chick 2/15/24 - this chick has now fledged!

  • Tatu (M) 1/7/2003

  • Sita (M) 1/20/2006

  • Nane (M) 1/27/2008

  • Morticia (F) 12/18/1996

  • Sifari (F) 12/19/2000

  • Rupella De Vil (F) 1/19/2007

  • Mbanza (F) 3/5/2010

  • Flower (F) 2/10/2011

  • Rogue One (F) 2/21/2018

  • Tatooine (F) 3/4/2018

  • Darth Maul (M) 1/21/2019

  • Skywalker (M) 1/29/2019

Identifying Features:

Wingtags:  

  • Tatu (M) R yellow 114

  • Sita (M) L green 125

  • Nane (M) L green 120

  • Morticia (F) R pink 112

  • Sifuri (F) R blue 101

  • Rupella De Vil (F) R pink 117

  • Mbanza (F) L pink 123

  • Flower (F) L yellow 118

  • Rogue One (F) L blue 279

  • Tatooine (F) R yellow 117

  • Darth Maul (M) R green 163

  • Skywalker (M) R orange 26

History:

  • Chick hatched 2/15/2024 to parents Moja and Sifari

  • Darth Maul is also offspring of Moja & Sifari

  • Update 4/2024: We received an egg from Ft. Wayne Children's Zoo - currently being incubated by Ruppella - candled by Kyle, doing well and expected to hatch soon! Ruppella’s original egg is currently in an artificial incubator.  **As of 5/10 - the egg from Ft. Wayne hatched, but did not survive. Rupella's original egg was retured to her. It hatched, but also did not survive.

More Information:

  • IUCN: Critically endangered

  • Only around 20,000 remaining in the wild

  • They will tuck their head down on cool mornings

  • Stretch out when it gets warmer

  • Get lighter in color as they get older

  • Also called Rippon Vulture

  • Inhabit rocky areas across central Africa

  • Will next on cliff edges and mountain peaks

  • Know to fly 36,000+ feet

  • One of world's highest-flying birds - One collided with a plane in Africa at 37,000 ft.

  • Wingspan up to 8 feet

  • Locates carrion using only eyesight

  • Gregarious; roost, nest, and soar together

  • Males and females will build next, incubate, and care for chick

  • Normally lay just one egg


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