<em>By Christopher Torge, Animal Keeper; Victoria Shaw, Animal Keeper;
Kim Szawan, Animal Keeper;Tim Pinkerton, Zoological Manager,
Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®, Orlando, FL</em>

<strong>Introduction</strong>
Ruppell’s griffon vultures (<em>Gyps rueppellii</em>) are found throughout Central Africa.  They have an average wingspan of 2.4 meters and weigh an average of eight kilograms.  This species of vulture is listed as “near threatened” according to the IUCN.  Issues affecting their declining population numbers include habitat loss due to encroaching farm land, loss of their main food source: wild ungulates, and poisoning.  Poisoning and death occur after vultures consume the remains of livestock treated with the commonly used anti-inflammatory medication, Diclofenac.  Conservation efforts are underway to stop the use of Diclofenac, replacing it with medications not lethal to vulture species.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is a 110-acre African-themed vacation resort.   Guests staying at this resort are surrounded by 45 acres of animal habitat viewable from their private rooms, as well as from common guest areas and a restaurant.  The animal collection consists of 35 species of African hoofstock and birds separated into four separate mixed-species habitats.  Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®, which opened in 2001, has historically always had Ruppell’s griffon vultures as part of its animal collection.

In the winter of 2009, the flock of Ruppell’s griffon vultures housed at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge® welcomed two new members.  Two chicks hatched out on 8January  and 10 January from two sets of parents.  This was the first time this species ever hatched at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge®, and the animal care staff had been eagerly waiting for these hatchings to occur.  Although both sets of parents had never raised chicks before, the staff was optimistic that the birds would be successful parents.  This paper will discuss the challenges the animal care staff faced when one set of the inexperienced parents proved to be unable to raise their chick by themselves.  The methods used to successfully assist these parents in raising their chick in an 11-acre mixed-species exhibit is the focus of this paper.

<strong>Challenges</strong>
During the first five days, the chick appeared in good health.  The parents were observed offering regurgitated food to the chick and all seemed normal.  The neonate exam on Day 2 went well and no issues or concerns were noted at that time.  The initial plan was to leave the chick with the parents for rearing.  The first sign of challenges began on Day 6.  These challenges included lack of parental feeding, cold weather, and protective parents.

<strong>Medical</strong>
On Day 6 the chick was unresponsive and lethargic and was transported to the veterinary hospital for evaluation.  Upon examination it was noted that the chick’s crop was empty and she had lost 18 grams in four days.  The chick was tube fed and held overnight for observations.  Within 12 hours the bird’s condition improved greatly and she started taking small pieces of chopped mouse pinkies offered with forceps.  Our assumptions were that the parents were taking care of the chick in all aspects, except adequate feeding.  We decided to return the chick to the nest and developed a supplemental feeding and weighing schedule, instead of pulling the chick for traditional hand-rearing.

<strong>Feeding Issues and Solutions</strong>
During the discussion of how to raise this chick, the animal care staff identified that the two priorities were to be able to feed the chick reliably on a set schedule, and to reduce imprinting on the keeper staff.   The parents had been constantly brooding and protecting the nest site, so the staff felt that leaving the chick with the parents and only assisting with its feeding was the best approach to lessen the likelihood of imprinting on the animal care staff.  A feeding and weighing schedule was implemented and a core group of keepers were assigned to handle these responsibilities.  The average temperatures in Central Florida in January 2009 were lower than normal.  Daytime temperatures remained in the 40’s and it wasn’t uncommon to have temperatures dip into the low 30’s overnight.  Initially the chick had to be pulled from the nest and placed into a heated brooder during its feeding sessions.

<strong>Protective Parents</strong>
Due to the protective nature of its parents, removing the chick from the nest proved to be a challenge.  Nets and large metal shields were used to encourage the parents away from the nest.   Once at a safe distance, keepers were able to safely remove the chick, place it in the brooder located in the back of a pickup truck several yards away from the nest site, and commence with the scheduled feeding.  Once the chick was returned to the nest, the parents quickly started to brood the chick again.   This method proved ……..

<img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-2101" title="vulture_chick" src="http://aecetia.net/gws/aazk/wp-content/uploads/vulture_chick.jpg" alt="vulture_chick" width="539" height="407" />

Food items handed to the adult female by keeper staff being fed to the chick. (Photo by Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge ® Animal Care Staff)