LOS ANGELES—The L.A. Zoo will open a Cape vulture exhibit Friday, offering residents and visitors a glimpse of the birds native to Africa, officials announced Tuesday.
Cape vultures, named for their South African range, which includes the Cape region, are carrion feeders, like other species of their kind. They act as nature’s “clean-up crew” by disposing of large carcasses that could carry diseases.
The L.A. Zoo has cared for Cape vultures since 1985, and guests have been able to see these birds soaring over the zoo in the Angela Collier World of Birds Show. The new exhibit space will provide a closer look at the vultures’ roosting and nesting habits.
“This was an unused exhibit that has been fully renovated to meet the needs of this species. It gives guests an up-close look at this African vulture and how they live and behave,” Denise Verret, CEO and director of the L.A. Zoo, said in a statement.
“The new space will undoubtedly help Angelenos continue to foster a deeper connection to wildlife and an appreciation for a species that plays a vital role in the environment,” she added.
Zoo officials said the new habitat was made possible by a $3 million donation from the Fritz B. Burns Foundation and additional support from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Plaques will adorn the viewing pavilion to recognize the foundation for its gift.
Rose Legato, curator of birds for the zoo, expressed excitement for the new exhibit.
“This habitat incorporates elements that are specifically designed for the species like colony nesting nooks in the rock wall, and ample room for sunbathing,” Legato said in a statement. “Not only does it put the birds’ natural behaviors on full display, the design showcases the high priority that the zoo places on animal care and wellbeing.”
The Cape vulture is a large bird with a wingspan of up to eight and a half feet, standing at about three feet tall and weighing 15 to 24 pounds. The vulture also has large feet and a sharp, hooked beak to easily tear flesh.
According to the zoo, the Cape vulture is an “Old World” vulture, which is more closely related to eagles and hawks than to “New World” vultures such as turkey vultures and California condors.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature classified the Cape vulture as a “vulnerable,” as they are being threatened by human activities. The zoo has a long and successful history of working with the species as part of the Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Saving Animals from Extinction program for African vultures.
