COLCHESTER Zoo bosses have said its vulture chick born earlier this year is “continuing to grow healthy and strong” in a new update on the animal.

Back in March, the venue saw its two Ruppell’s griffon vultures Morticia and Jekyll successfully hatch a chick.

Having previously raised two young, the duo are experienced parents.

Now, six months on, the zoo has provided an update on the chick and how it is adapting to life at its new home.

A spokesman said: “The chick has been continuing to grow healthy and strong every day.

“Over the last six months, our animal care team has been monitoring the chick closely on CCTV to ensure that both parents were feeding the chick with enough food.

“On June 16, the chick began developing its adult feathers and spent more time at the front of the nest, surveying the rest of its habitat.

“On August 8, the chick finally fledged and explored the rest of its home. It has since returned to the nest several times to sleep and rest during the day.

“Although there is no set hierarchy in vultures, the chick was a slightly reserved during its first few feeds as a fledgling but has now learned how to feed for itself.”

The team has not yet confirmed the gender as this requires a DNA test to do so, but says it plans to do this soon.

The fledgling can be seen, along with the rest of the group, at its home at Vulture Valley, and is “easy to distinguish” due to its brown juvenile feathers and lack of white ruff.

The spokesman added: “Vultures play a crucial role in the eco-system with them being one of nature’s best scavengers, feeding off dead carcasses reducing the risk of disease spreading to other fauna.

“Unfortunately, Ruppell’s griffon vultures are currently listed as critically endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to habitat loss, decline in food sources and hunting for trade.

“Therefore, this little arrival is fantastic news for the conservation of this species.”