Jadn Soper
Egyptian Vulture Joins Our Education Team
There’s a new featherless face at the World Center for Birds of Prey! We’re excited to announce the arrival of our newest avian ambassador: a two-year-old male Egyptian Vulture named Ramses.
“Ramses will be the first Old World vulture featured in our education program,” shares Curator of Birds Stephanie Ashley. “We are excited to show guests the differences between New World and Old World vultures, and to have a direct interpretive connection to our historical and current work with vultures in Africa and Asia.”
Egyptian Vultures have a wide range spanning Africa, Europe, and Asia but are listed as Endangered by the IUCN with populations worldwide in decline due to poisoning, electrocution, direct persecution, and other threats. A captive-breeding program is underway at San Diego Zoo and at the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis, Missouri, and it was at the former facility that Ramses hatched back in 2023. He joins our ambassador program on loan and will remain with our education team on a temporary basis before eventually being matched with a female and moved to another location for breeding.
“We are honored to have the opportunity to participate in this project as a holding facility for birds who are too young to breed,” says Tate Mason, Director of the World Center for Birds of Prey. “Ramses is here for a limited time, so we encourage everyone to come out and meet him while he’s here!”
