Prague Zoo: Our carnivorous vulture Anahita is a new home here
The new addition to the Prague Zoo is called Anahita after the Persian goddess of fertility, however, it is not yet known whether it is a male or a female. It is the smallest species of vulture in Europe, its population is already critically endangered in the Balkans. They are also migratory birds on which During their trip to Africa, various pitfalls lurking mainly from human activity. In some countries, they are illegally shot or digested.
Such a fate was met by a vulture, which arrived at the Prague Zoo last week on Saturday. It hatched in the spring of 2020 in the eastern part of the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria. After leaving his native nest, the vulture set out for Africa. Unfortunately, in the Middle East, he met the same fate as hundreds of thousands of other migratory birds.
Because it would be marked, animal rights activists soon learned that something had happened to him. On the sixth day after he set out, his signal was lost. It was soon confirmed that he was probably the victim of a hunter. Workers of the Lebanon Nature Conservation Society (SPNL) him found 25 kilometers from the Lebanese capital Beirut with at least 12 shots in the body. “According to SPNL estimates, 2.6 million migratory birds are killed in Lebanon every year, “Pointed the director of the Prague Zoo Miroslav Bobek. In addition to hunters, the consumption of carcasses contaminated with drugs or heavy metals is also dangerous for them.
The vulture survived the hunter’s attack, but his transport back to Bulgaria, where the animal protectors originally wanted to take him and where he could get into the breeding program, was problematic. Due to his injuries, it was clear in advance that he could not return to the wild. but all that his Return to the mountains where he was born is hindered by insurmountable bureaucratic obstacles.
He found refuge in Prague
In the end, animal rights activists decided to contact the Prague Zoo directly, which has long been involved in saving this species. “Due to the consequences of his injuries, he can no longer return to nature, but still in his tragic story has hope: I believe that one day I will join the breeding program and his descendants send a wild population of scavengers, “added director Bobek.
The vulture arrived in Troy on January 22, and according to the bird curator Antonín Vaidl must remain in quarantine for a month. “He is already undergoing examinations, which will determine the next step in his treatment,” he said. During treatment, breeders should also find out if they are alone or alone.
The Prague Zoo has been dedicated to rescuing vultures for many years and also runs a European breeding program, in which nine vultures have returned to the wild. Although Anahita will not return to the wild, it can be a valuable addition to the zoo and help restore the population of this species.
A male wombat named Cooper came to the Prague Zoo from the Hanover Zoo. Visitors will be able to see it in Darwin Crater. Adventure Zoo Hannover, Prague Zoo
A scavenger vulture named Anahita, who was rescued by defenders with 12 shots in the body in Lebanon. In January, he was transferred to the Prague Zoo. (January 31, 2022)
Author: Prague Zoo