Two hooded vultures recently arrived at renowned north-west conservation charity Chester Zoo. Classed as critically endangered, the newly joined pair are part of a European preservation programme, and the zoo hopes they will now produce offspring to support its efforts to safeguard their species from becoming extinct.
Following Chester Zoo’s tradition, the new additions have received unique names. Keepers have called them Alan and Claudia after the celebrities known for the hit competition show “The Traitors”.
The arrivals are the very first hooded vulture breeding pair ever to reside at the Chester attraction and avian experts at the zoo have commented that they have now shown signs of a robust bond. Commenting on the love birds, Heather-Anne Pedley, a bird keeper at Chester Zoo, 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?”
Alan and Claudia came to Chester as an established pair via the Horstmann Trust, a conservation breeding centre dedicated to vultures. The keeper added that no one had prepared her for how much she would adore the birds for their characters and antics. She explained how they appear to have pulled up their hoods and remarked on their attractive blue eye rings that resemble natural eyeliner.
Visitors to Chester can now see Claudia and Alan in their specially designed habitat at the zoo, which is just a short drive beyond the city walls.