Meet the only Vultures in New Zealand

Metalbird x Auckland Zoo

 
Vultures are a vital scavenger bird in the wildly diverse ecosystems of the African savannah – consuming dead and/or dying animals and recycling them into this environment as nutrients for the health of its flora and fauna.

The white-headed vulture is unfortunately a Critically Endangered species (IUCN Red List) – under threat from the alteration of savannah ecosystems, and even poisoning and persecution.

While there are no vultures in New Zealand, our recent collaboration with local NZ company Metalbird has seen them create five life-sized white-headed vultures perching in various locations within our Africa Safari Track. Have you spotted them all?

 
Metalbird, which supports conservation efforts for threatened bird species locally and overseas, has also created a smaller white-headed vulture that is available exclusively through Metalbird and the Zoo Shop.

Twenty percent of proceeds from all Metalbird vultures sold will go to Auckland Zoo’s Conservation Fund, which funds the conservation of threatened wildlife and wild places - here in Aotearoa and around the world.