Cleared for take-off but rare vulture fails to fly

Failure to launch: Jurong Bird Park hospital staff looking on as the cinereous vulture extends its wings in an attempt to fly. ­ — The Straits Times/ANN

The rare cinereous vulture found near the Singapore Botanic Gardens remains in Singapore after it failed to take flight despite being assessed to be strong enough to do so.

The migratory bird – Singapore’s first record of the largest raptor in Europe, Asia and Africa – had been hospitalised at Jurong Bird Park’s bird hospital since last Thursday.