NEW YORK – A baby vulture at a New York zoo is being fed not by another bird but by hand puppet — a decades-old technique used to ensure the chick doesn’t identify too closely with its human ...

The Bronx Zoo in New York is using a specially designed hand puppet to feed its new king vulture chick, which is intended to prevent the baby bird from becoming too dependent on humans.

The ghost outfit and hand puppet have been used in the conservation of birds of prey for decades. In this case, it’s being used to raise a king vulture chick, born at the zoo on February 25.

Dean Martin hand puppet, part of a set representing the comic duo of Martin and Lewis. The puppet has a plastic head molded to resemble Martin with a red and navy blue striped fabric body. The puppets ...

NEW YORK – A baby vulture at a New York zoo is being fed not by another bird but by hand puppet — a decades-old technique used to ensure the chick doesn’t identify too closely with its human ...

A baby vulture at a New York zoo is being fed not by another bird but by a hand puppet — a decades-old technique used to ensure the chick doesn’t identify too closely with its human handlers ...

A baby vulture at the Bronx Zoo is being fed not by another bird but by hand puppet — a decades-old technique used to ensure the chick doesn’t identify too closely with its human handlers.

Hand-puppet rearing has also been used to help bring back the critically endangered California condor. The new king vulture chick, which is yet to be named, is the first of its kind to be hatched ...

Hand-puppet rearing has also been used to help bring back the critically endangered California condor. The new king vulture chick, which is yet to be named, is the first of its kind to be hatched ...

But to make sure it doesn’t imprint on humans, staff train the bird’s instincts onto a hand puppet that’s crafted to look like a real vulture. Associated Press Apr 30, 2025, 1:40 AM ...