Dallas Zoo officials said Monday they are working with authorities following the “quite suspicious” death of Pin, an endangered Lappet-faced Vulture, and announced a hefty reward for information.
At a news conference, Dallas Zoo CEO Gregg Hudson told reporters that after the bird was found dead with a “wound” over the weekend, the zoo alerted Dallas police.
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, the zoo also said Pin had “injuries,” which were discovered after an autopsy on the animal, known as a gross necropsy.
In response to Pin’s death, the zoo has substantially increased surveillance cameras, including police solar towers. The bird’s death comes just over a week after a frantic search for a missing clouded leopard was conducted at the zoo.
DALLAS ZOO CALLS ON POLICE TO INVESTIGATE ‘UNUSUAL’ DEATH OF ENDANGERED VULTURE
Police outside the Dallas Zoo on Friday, January 13, 2023.
(KDFW)
Additionally, the facility has more than doubled its overnight security and increased staff presence.
“We are going to continue to expand and implement whatever is necessary for safety and protection measures for animals, staff and people. [who] live near the zoo,” he said.
Dallas police are in the process of conducting interviews and Fish and Wildlife officials are assisting in the investigation.
Pin-faced vulture, the endangered species, was found dead in its habitat on January 21, 2023.
(Dallas Zoo)
The zoo is also asking the public for help and offering a reward.
“We are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and indictment,” Hudson said, noting that in his more than three decades in the profession, he had never experienced a situation like the one that happened Saturday and with Nova, the clouded leopard. who escaped through an opening in her display after she was intentionally cut.
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While investigating how Nova escaped, another opening was found that appeared to have been intentionally cut in a langur monkey exhibit. None of the monkeys escaped the habitat, but police opened a crime report of criminal mischief.
“It is totally unprecedented and very, very disturbing,” Hudson said, noting that “everything” is being looked at.
In this undated photo provided by the Dallas Zoo, a clouded leopard named Nova rests on a tree branch in an enclosure.
(Dallas Zoo via AP)
Pin, who was at least 35 years old, had been at the zoo for 33 years. There are likely only 6,500 individuals of the species left on Earth.
There are now 27 individual Lappet-faced Vultures in US zoos and 41 in non-US zoos.
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“We are so grateful for the support we have received in understanding the unexpected loss of our 35-year-old Lappet-faced Vulture, Pin. Losing him is devastating not only to our zoo family, but to conservation efforts for this species. Pin will be sorely missed. for everyone,” the zoo tweeted Tuesday.
Fox News’ Paul Best contributed to this report.
