Overview

• Nuremberg Zoo said the bearded vulture died on Tuesday and was the oldest male in the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria breeding program.
• The bird hatched in 1979 at Alpenzoo Innsbruck and was transferred to Franconia in 1980.
• Over his lifetime he fathered 13 chicks, strengthening the captive population used to support reintroduction.
• Bearded vultures were eradicated from the German Alps about 150 years ago due to misconceptions about predation, although they primarily eat bones.
• Since 2021 roughly ten birds have been released in Berchtesgaden National Park, with one death from rockfall highlighting continued hazards for the recovering population.