Meet Claudia and Alan: our first hooded vulture pair arrive at Chester Zoo
Already showing signs of a strong bond, the pair could help secure a future for their critically endangered species through a Europe-wide conservation breeding programme.
Two critically endangered hooded vultures have arrived at Chester Zoo, where we're hoping the newly bonded pair will produce youngsters to help safeguard the species from extinction. And they've already got names inspired by The Traitors stars Claudia Winkleman and Alan Carr.
The pair are the first breeding pair of hooded vultures to ever live at the zoo, and they're already showing signs of a strong bond. Our conservationists hope their relationship will eventually lead to a new generation of young vultures as part of a Europe-wide conservation breeding programme.
Meet the new arrivals
The new arrivals, Claudia and Alan, came to us from the Horstmann Trust, a conservation breeding centre for vultures, where they were already an established breeding pair.
Bird Keeper Heather-Anne Pedley said:
"We named them after Traitors stars Alan Carr and Claudia Winkelmann, because what better way to reflect how funny and engaging they are than to name them after two national treasures?
"Nobody prepared me for how much I would fall in love with them, their antics and characters. They look like they’ve just put a hood up, and they have this beautiful blue ring around their eyes, like natural eyeliner."
A bond that could help protect their species
Hooded vulture couples are monogamous, meaning they form long-term pair bonds. They preen each other, gently touch each other's bills and co-build nests.
"This pair are real love birds, and we are hopeful they’ll go on to breed. Any youngsters they go on to have will become part of a European conservation breeding programme, helping to create an insurance population for this incredibly rare species."
Heather-Anne Pedley, Bird Keeper at Chester Zoo
She added: "They’re fascinating birds, very active, clever and interested in their environment – and they don’t wait their turn at feeding time."
Nature's clean-up crew
Hooded vultures traditionally had a wide range across west, central and southern Africa, where they soar over the land searching for carcasses to feed upon.
With wingspans of up to 180cm, these birds have dark brown body feathers, a buff-coloured 'hood' and a distinctive bald face and throat.
Despite their unusual appearance, vultures play a vital role in the environment. Often described as 'nature's clean-up crew', they help remove animal carcasses and reduce the risk of disease spreading through ecosystems.
Heather-Anne continued:
“In the wild, vultures help prevent zoonotic diseases – illnesses that can spread between species – because their stomach acid is so strong they can eat decaying meat that other animals would not be able to digest. This helps prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax and botulism into the soil.”
Why hooded vultures need our help
Despite their crucial role across different ecosystems, vulture numbers are dropping and hooded vultures are now classified as Critically Endangered according to the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species.
This decline is driven by accidental and deliberate poisoning and unsustainable demand for vulture body parts and eggs for use in traditional medicine and rituals. There is no scientific evidence to support this use.
Power lines and other tall structures also pose a threat. Vultures tend to scan the ground for food rather than looking straight ahead, which can lead to mid-air collisions. They can also be electrocuted if they land on uninsulated power lines.
By welcoming Claudia and Alan to Chester Zoo, we're contributing to a Europe-wide conservation breeding programme that aims to create an insurance population of hooded vultures.
We're hopeful that the pair will go on to breed, helping us support the future of this environmentally important species.
