Ramat Gan Safari: A Love Story Between Two Vultures

The new resident at the safari was nicknamed Uzzi, because it's a perfect name for a male Lappet-faced vulture. Until recently, Uzzi lived at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo with another female Lappet-faced vulture. Lappet-faced vultures are monogamous animals that stay with the same partner for life, or at least as much as possible. When his partner passed away, it was clear that it was better to find him a female than to let him live alone.

Paula, a very old female Lappet-faced vulture, lives at the Ramat Gan Safari, and despite the age gap, everyone agreed that this was the best solution for the lonely vulture and the widower. The truth is, it wasn't clear how much Uzzi would like the idea...

From the first moment he met Paula, he started working on the relationship. While the elderly Paula retired for her regular afternoon nap, Uzzi tried to get closer. He did this several more times that day, and when Paula, who doesn't give in easily, pushed him away, he simply stayed around. Over time, his status in the enclosure rose. He is a young and strong vulture, although relatively calm and relaxed, but when you are with three other elderly individuals in the enclosure, you can claim the crown, even if you are not an eagle - "king of the birds", but only a close cousin.

Currently, Paula and Uzzi are near but distant. The keepers see them moving towards each other in the enclosure. They are not yet interacting in a real way, but they are always on the same side of the enclosure, even during meals, and that is an excellent sign.

The Lappet-faced vulture is a bird of prey that has become extinct in Israel, but is common throughout the Arabian Peninsula. Currently, there is no active repatriation program or breeding nucleus in the country, but there is a European breeding nucleus for this species, if needed.

Photo = Uzzi, the Lappet-faced vulture. Photo by Rahli Ben Ezra, Ramat Gan Safari