The Bronx Zoo has unveiled its secret weapon for hand-raising a rare king vulture chick: a strikingly lifelike puppet modeled after a vulture mom. Wildlife conservation meets puppet show as keepers swap feathers for felt to nurture the next generation.

By deploying the realistic vulture puppet at the Bronx Zoo, staff cleverly sidestep the risk of chicks imprinting on humans—a process vital for successful wild releases. This Bronx Zoo innovation proves puppetry can go from Sesame Street to species survival in a single swoop.