Dallas Zoo: Endangered vulture found dead had unnatural wound

DALLAS — An endangered lappet-faced vulture was found dead by Dallas Zoo officers over the weekend — the third suspicious occasion to occur throughout the final 10 days on the zoo.

During a news convention on Monday, officers mentioned the “unusual” demise of Pin, the vulture, is “extremely concerning,” particularly in mild of the latest escape of a clouded leopard.

Pin was certainly one of 4 lappet-faced vultures on the Dallas Zoo and had been there for 33 years. This species of vulture is taken into account endangered, based on the zoo.

Pin was found dead on Saturday morning by workers, zoo officers mentioned. Details surrounding Pin’s demise weren’t launched. Officials would solely say the vulture had some type of wound.

Dallas police are dealing with the investigation into the vulture’s demise. The division mentioned its animal cruelty unit is investigating.

The police division can also be investigating fencing that seemed to be deliberately reduce on the habitats for the clouded leopards and Langur monkeys. One of the clouded leopards escaped on Friday, Jan. 13, and was ultimately found on the zoo grounds.

It’s unclear whether or not the three occasions are associated, however zoo officers and the police division aren’t ruling out something.

“We’re assuming everything at this point and that’s why we brought Dallas police in,” Gregg Hudson, Dallas Zoo’s president and CEO, mentioned.

“Over the weekend, they have been conducting interviews not only with zoo staff but also going over and gathering any video surveillance they may have at the zoo,” Dallas police spokesperson Kristin Lowman.

In response to the latest occasions, the Dallas Zoo mentioned it has stepped up in a single day safety and can also be limiting out of doors entry for among the animals in a single day.

A $10,000 reward is being provided for any information that results in an arrest and indictment, based on the zoo.

Anyone who might have information is urged to name police at 214-670-7694.

The Dallas Zoo launched a reality sheet on Pin, the lappet-faced vulture.

About Pin, the lappet-faced vulture

• Pin was a male lappet-faced vulture that was at the least 35 years previous. He arrived at Dallas Zoo 33 years in the past, and we don’t know his precise hatch date.
• Pin was certainly one of 4 lappet-faced vultures at Dallas Zoo. Three remaining birds (two male, one feminine) nonetheless reside right here.
• Pin was a lot beloved by the Bird Department –
  • He sired 11 offspring – they now stay at Albuquerque BioPark, Zoo Atlanta, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Cincinnati Zoo, and right here at Dallas Zoo.
  • His first “grandkid” hatched in early 2020; she now lives at Maryland Zoo in Baltimore.

• The lappet-faced vulture, native to Africa and components of the Middle East, will get its title from the folds of pores and skin on both aspect of its neck known as lappets.
• Vultures are sometimes often called “nature’s clean-up crew” – they play a essential position in consuming dead animals and ridding the setting of the unfold of probably lethal ailments from that carrion.
• Its wingspan of as much as 9 toes makes this the most important vulture in Africa.
• Given their measurement and energy, lappet-faced vultures are sometimes the primary of the vulture species to reach as soon as a carcass is detected; smaller scavengers depend upon lappet-faced vultures to do the heavy work: tearing open the carcass.
• These are long-lived birds, which reproduce slowly; often with just one or two offspring per season.

• According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), they’re thought of endangered, with an opportunity to maneuver to critically endangered.
• There are seemingly solely 6,500 people of this species left on earth. This is taken into account a small, very quickly declining inhabitants.
• There at the moment are 27 particular person lappet-face vultures in U.S. zoos, and 41 in zoos outdoors the U.S. (in Europe and the Middle East).
• Their biggest challenges within the wild are as a consequence of poisoning by poachers and farmers, and habitat encroachment.

Dallas Zoo’s position with the species

• The Association of Zoos & Aquariums’ Species Survival Plan for this species is hosted by the Dallas Zoo. One of our Lead Zoologists is the Studbook Keeper and Coordinator for this program that helps maintain the inhabitants in AZA- accredited establishments.
• That position tracks each particular person within the North American inhabitants, and oversees suggestions for potential pairings, as part of the breeding program.