In recent years, the hatching process of chicks from the bearded vulture pair Mascha (36) and Hans (33) has been repeatedly challenging, with issues arising during the hatching process. As in 2024, this year the egg was again replaced a few days before hatching with a dummy egg and incubated under controlled conditions in an incubator.
The chick started to peck at the shell as expected, but the process then came to a halt. 'It became apparent that the young bearded vulture could not hatch completely without support. Therefore, our veterinarian intervened and facilitated its successful hatching,' explains Dr. Pascal Marty, curator and director of zoology at the Nature and Animal Park Goldau. Already the next day, the young bird appeared vital and could be well-fed.
Successful Reunification
To ensure the most natural rearing possible and to avoid imprinting on humans, it was determined from the start that the chick should be raised by its parents. Today it was exchanged with the dummy egg. The strong brooding instinct of the bearded vultures led to the chick being readily accepted. Since then, Mascha and Hans have been attentively caring for their offspring. It is currently undecided whether this year's young bird will be moved to another park or released into the wild.
Important for Species Conservation
Species conservation is one of the core tasks of modern zoological institutions, in addition to education, research, and nature conservation. The Nature and Animal Park Goldau is engaged in various international breeding programs for conservation and regularly participates in release projects, which for many years has included the bearded vulture.
After the bearded vulture was extirpated in Switzerland, around 220 animals now live in the Alpine region thanks to coordinated reintroduction projects. The coordination takes place within the framework of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP).
For further information, please contact:
Dr. Pascal Marty
Curator of the Nature and Animal Park Goldau:
pascal.marty@tierpark.ch
+41 41 859 06 20
Nature and Animal Park Goldau:
Parkstrasse 384106 Goldau
+41 41 859 06 06
info@tierpark.ch
www.tierpark.ch