Guest contribution: Vultures of Zoo Berlin

One week ago my sis visited the vultures of the Zoo Berlin. To get to the vultures as soon as possible she asked the ticket saleswoman for the way to the vulture-enclosure. The saleswomans seemed to be very surprisend and my sis thought she would not even know what vultures are. But suddenly the woman answered my sis's question with another question: "Which species of vultures would you like to see first?" Haha, great answer! And a good question, 'cause there are so many different species of vultures living in Berlin. Enjoy:

Cute, young Andean Condor:

Andean Condor daddy:

Bearded Vulture:

Eurasian Griffon Vulture "Fritz":

Another Eurasian Griffon Vulture:

Special Guest White-necked Raven:

Hooded Vulture:

King Vulture:

Palm-nut Vulture:

Egyptian Vulture:

White-headed Vulture:

"Vulture Turtle", Shoebill & Co

Next to the Bearded Vulture, the two Egyptian Vultures and the two King Vultures some more funny guys are living in the Zoo of Frankfurt - I call them "Special Guests" in my blog.

First of all the impressive "Vulture Turtle" (if you translate the German name "Geierschildkröte" word by word). The real English name is "Alligator Snapping Turtle", but I prefer my self creation "Vulture Turtle". When I first read about this animal during vulture research I wanted to see this turtle one day! Surprisingly this wish became true when visiting the reptile house in Frankfurt.

Have to take a look at Wikipedia for some details: Vulture Turtles can have a size of 90 cm and a weight of 80 kg. Well, this guy in Frankfurt was smaller, but not less impressive. Isn't this curved beak in her face very vulturous!?

Vulture Turtles are living in surface waters, eating fish, snakes, frogs and other animals. They are waiting at the bottom of the water, hinding in the mud with their mouth' open. Their tongues are looking like a red worm that other fish like to eat. The fish swim inside the Vulture Turtle's mouth and the turtle just have to close it's mouth for lunch! Bon appetit!

Another amazing guy is the Shoebill, who was mentioned in my blog when visiting the Zoo of Zurich, Switzerland. Looooong long time ago a Shoebill was living in the Zoo of Duisburg, too, but I cannot remember. There are just some very old postcards left in the zoo-shop remembering the Shoebill. I heard there is a Shoebill living in Frankfurt, that's why I was very excited visiting this zoo.

Unfortunately the Shoebill died at the end of March :-( That's so sad! The Shoebill was one of the visitors favourite animal. Now the zoo tries to get another Shoebill, but that's not very easy as the Shoebill is a very endangered bird.

Hope there will be a Shoebill somewhere moving in this very nice and comfortable looking enclosure of Frankfurt Zoo.

Next to the Shoebill's enclosure there are two cute Dikkops living.

King Vultures of Zoo of Frankfurt

Right from the enclosure of the two Egyptian Vultures and the Bearded Vulture there is the enclosure of two King Vultures living in the Zoo of Frankfurt. Gorgeous, colourful bird! Unfortunately almost every zoo visitor was making fun of them and giving them bad names :-( "Oh my God, look at this stupid face!" No wonder the King Vultures were sitting on a very high perch all the time, hiding from bad insults...

Warming wings in the sunshine.

Admittedly, the orange lappet on top of the beak is not everbody's taste. But the colourful head is beautiful.

What a funny pose! I am fascinated!!!

Very surprisingly, how fluffy and soft the King Vulture's plumage is looking, when the vulture ruffles his feathers. Cuddlesome sight!

After sitting on top of a perch most of the time the King Vulture lay down. So cute.

Adorable psycho-expression! ;-) Isn't this shaggy guy absolutely lovable!?!