Prague Zoo Keepers Use Puppet to Raise Rejected Vulture Chick

Zookeepers at Prague Zoo had to step in as puppeteers to care for a lesser yellow-headed vulture chick that was rejected by its parents. The chick hatched three weeks ago, but keepers soon realized that the parents were not ready to care for their offspring. To ensure the chick’s survival and future breeding capabilities, the firstborn is being hand-reared in a box using a puppet that looks like a parent bird. Another chick is expected to hatch soon. This puppet-feeding technique has been successfully used in the past to save endangered bird species at the zoo. Prague Zoo is one of only three zoos in Europe that breed lesser yellow-headed vultures. (Newser)