The incredible rescue and adoption of a bearded vulture chick at Beauval

It’s a story straight out of a wildlife thriller that unfolded behind the scenes at the ZooParc de Beauval. A young bearded vulture chick, a particularly endangered species of bird of prey, narrowly escaped disaster before finding a providential adoptive father.

A crucial issue for the species

Among bearded vultures, nature imposes a strict rule: each pair raises only one chick per year. If there are several chicks, the weakest one perishes, starved out by the stronger one, which is quicker to feed. To save these ‘second-born’ chicks, zoos are joining forces. Born two weeks ago at Pairi Daiza Zoo in Belgium, this young chick was quickly transferred to Beauval to be offered to a surrogate pair whose egg was unfortunately unfertilised this year.

The aim of this adoption? To avoid human imprinting. Indeed, in order to be reintroduced into the wild one day, the vulture must grow up in the company of its peers and learn their social codes.

High tension and a narrow escape

Filmed by the nest’s surveillance cameras, the first encounter almost turned into a tragedy. Against all expectations, the female of the pair proved aggressive, violently attacking the newborn and flinging it out of the nest. Thanks to the quick thinking and composure of the carers, the chick was saved at the last minute.

The miracle the next day

Refusing to give up, the animal care team tried a new strategy the next day: introducing the chick to the male alone. It was a hunch that paid off. They hit it off immediately, and the adoptive father took over with unexpected tenderness.

Thanks to the teams’ dedication and this paternal instinct, this young bearded vulture is now out of danger. It is now growing up peacefully and preparing for the most wonderful of stages: its return to the wild.

Protecting the bearded vulture

These collaborations between zoos are essential for the survival of endangered species such as the bearded vulture, classified as ‘near threatened’ by the IUCN. Once extinct in many parts of Europe, this majestic vulture remains vulnerable today due to human activities: accidental poisoning, direct persecution, habitat degradation, disturbance during breeding, lack of food, and collisions with overhead cables and wind turbines.

Thanks to breeding programmes, coordinated transfers between parks and reintroduction projects, wild populations can be strengthened and preserved in the long term. Every birth therefore represents a precious hope for the future of the species.

How can you help? Play your part in their survival!

The rescue of this chick is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the colossal work carried out on a daily basis. You too can play an active part in safeguarding this natural scavenger:

• Support the conservation programme: The Beauval Nature association is actively involved on the ground in the protection and reintroduction of this bird of prey.
• Sponsor La Rhune: To go one step further, you can sponsor La Rhune, the female bearded vulture born in 2010. Your contribution will directly support numerous biodiversity conservation programmes around the world.