Stara Zagora Zoo in a joint initiative with the Rescue Centre of Green Balkans and the National Professional School of Veterinary Medicine "Ivan Pavlov"

Stara Zagora Zoo received a donation - a pair of griffon vultures, provided by the Green Balkans Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre. The aim is breeding and conservation of this species of birds of prey. Students from the 11th grade from the National Professional School of Veterinary Medicine "Ivan Pavlov" were part of the event specially organised for the new residents of the zoo.

"Today we started the educational and practical initiatives together with the students from the veterinary high school in Stara Zagora, who are visiting the zoo for the first time for such purposes. We are planning our joint work in the future, so that they can see first-hand what it's like to care for animals, their habits and needs" explained the head of the zoo, Dr. Ivelina Ilieva.

The two pairs of griffon vultures - Shandin and Aylen, and Sanie and Belcho, now have a completely renovated habitat providing the best conditions for the species. Before getting settled in in their new home, they were dewormed with the help of the students. They received precise instructions from Dr. Rusko Petrov, veterinarian and operational manager of the Green Balkans Rescue Centre. The students also helped with preparing the birds' nests.

"All the chicks, raised by the pair from the Green Balkans Rescue Centre - Sanie and Belcho, have been released in the wild. This tradition will continue even after the pair's donation to the zoo, with which it will join the group of modern zoos that support the wild populations of the species they keep in captivity" commented the representatives of the Rescue Centre.

Interesting and useful information about birds of prey can be found on site in the zoo by scanning the QR codes placed on each of the information signs for the animals there.