Just one glimpse of the tiny gold-fronted leaf bird – a flash of green, yellow, and blue – is all it takes to understand the appeal of keeping such a beauty as a pet. But these other songbirds are being taken from the wild at unsustainable levels.
The L.A. Zoo is one of the few zoos in the country that cares for the stunning Cape vulture. Our flock is getting bigger, which is great news for this endangered species.
The Zoo's commitment to protecting animals extends to many victims of the illegal pet trade. A recent discovery at LAX underscores the plight of exotic bird species.
Katie Vincent has spent the past month in Hartbeespoort, South Africa working with VulPro, a rehabilitation and education center that focuses on vultures, who arrive there for a number of reasons, most due to human activities.