Prague zookeepers turn to puppets to parent baby vultures

Zookeepers feeding two baby vultures in Prague are using a hand puppet designed to look like the chicks' parents, a technique they hope will ensure the birds learn to identify with other vultures - not humans.
Staff at Prague Zoo had to start hand-feeding the lesser yellow-headed vultures when their parents stopped nesting. After using the approach with other birds, they quickly made a hand puppet that looks like an adult vulture's head.
'If we raised (the bird) in direct contact with humans, it would become imprinted to humans, and then it would be difficult to breed that individual within the species,' said Antonin Vaidl, Prague Zoo's curator of bird breeding.
Human imprinting increases the risk of a chick struggling to build a relationship with a mate in adulthood.
Hand puppets have previously been used with other bird species at the zoo including rhinoceros hornbills and Javan green magpies, with their design reflecting distinctive features such as a large colourful beak.
Prague is one of three European zoos to breed the lesser yellow-headed vulture, also known as the savannah vulture.
Vulture conservation is crucial for maintaining ecological balance. As natural scavengers, vultures efficiently consume carcasses, preventing the spread of diseases like rabies and anthrax. Their decline due to habitat loss, poisoning, and hunting has led to increased carcass decomposition times, encouraging disease transmission to humans and livestock. Protecting vultures helps sustain healthy ecosystems and supports public health by reducing zoonotic disease risks. Additionally, their role supports biodiversity and ecological stability. Conservation efforts ensure these vital birds continue to fulfill their ecological functions, highlighting their importance in natural waste management and disease control. —Reuters