After 3 Decades, The Bronx Zoo Welcomes Royalty in Bird Form

After 3 Decades, Bronx Zoo Welcomes Royal Bird

The Bronx Zoo took to social media towards the end of April 2025 to announce the addition of a new animal to their campus.

This animal hadn't been a part of the Bronx Zoo family in over 3 decades, but now the wait is over and the zoo is giving a royal welcome to...The King Vulture.

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For those who may be unfamiliar, a King Vulture is one of the bigger vulture species. According to the Rain Forest Alliance, the King Vulture can grow up to 32 inches long and "unlike other vultures, which are dark in color, king vultures are creamy white, with darker tail-features."

They also will grow feathers around their head that are super colorful like blue, red and orange and they have skin that droops over their beak called a Wattle and it's usually bright red-orange.

Zookeepers Feed New Bronx Zoo Bird in Unique Fashion

Now that the first King Vulture is back on Bronx Zoo premises, zoo keepers are currently hand-raising the King Vulture chick.

While this may seem like common practice for young animals in zoos, the Bronx Zoo is doing something a bit unique. They are hand raising the King Vulture using a hand puppet.

This puppet is being used to "prevent young birds from imprinting on humans, and ensures it grows into a healthy adult." The Bronx Zoo goes on to explain in a social media post explaining that this technique was pioneered more than 40 years ago by Bronx Zoo ornithologists.

The zoo explains further writing:

 A keeper disguises themselves with a costume, hiding their face and other human features, and uses the hand puppet to feed the bird inside a brooder which serves as a nest for the chick.

According to the post the most recent bird puppet was created by an artists in the Bronx Zoo’s Exhibition and Graphic Arts Department.

The information and data gathered by keepers about the King Vulture will then be used to share with other zoos for "continual improvement of husbandry techniques."

Learn more about the King Vulture and the Bronx Zoo at WCS.org.

Brew at The Zoo: 21+ Event at The Bronx Zoo This Spring

Who says that going to the zoo is just for kids? The Bronx Zoo will be hosting Brew at the Zoo on June 13th, 2025.

Guests, 21+, will enjoy delicious drinks, great music and amazing food on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo from 6 pm until 11 pm. Early entry will give guest limited access to animal exhibits like the Giraffe House and the Butterfly Garden.

According to the Bronx Zoo's website, this year they will feature "MORE pouring stations, MORE food vendors, and MORE music than ever before. There’s no other party quite like this in NYC."

Tickets are available now at BronxZoo.com.