Woodland Park Zoo introduces critically endangered hooded vultures, aiming to support conservation efforts as their population declines due to habitat loss.
SEATTLE — For the first time in its 126-year history, Woodland Park Zoo has welcomed a pair of critically endangered hooded vultures.
The two birds, a sub-Saharan African species known scientifically as Necrosyrtes monachus, recently arrived at the zoo and are settling into an exhibit located across from the maned wolves. Zookeepers say the pair has adjusted quickly and has been feeding on raw meatballs.
The male, just under a year old, is named Tutaonana, while the female, who turns 2 this month, is named Kiara. Both names come from Swahili, with meanings tied to farewell and royalty.
Visitors can expect to recognize the birds by their dark brown feathers and the distinctive bare skin on their heads and faces that gives the species its name. Their wingspan stretches beyond five feet, adding to their striking presence.
Hooded vultures play a critical role in the environment by consuming animal remains, a process that helps limit the spread of disease.
Zoo officials say the species has experienced a steep population decline in recent decades and is now considered critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Threats to the birds include poisoning, shrinking habitats, fewer available food sources and hunting.
The new arrivals are part of a conservation effort coordinated through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan, which works to maintain and support populations of vulnerable species in human care.
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