Farewell to Vladimir

Apr 2, 2025 | Wildlife Patient Stories

On Friday, March 28, 2025, WildCare bid farewell to Vladimir, our venerable and beloved Wildlife Ambassador Turkey Vulture.

Vladimir was 40 years old, one of the oldest vultures known in captivity. Due to severe complications from age-related arthritis, WildCare Medical Staff, in consultation with veterinarians from the Medical Center for Birds, made the humane decision to give him a peaceful end. 

Vladimir’s many, many friends and admirers are heartbroken at his loss. 

If you would like to visit and pay your respects, a memorial has been set up in front of his enclosure at WildCare Transition. Click for opening hours and directions. Donations in Vlad’s honor may be made at discoverwildcare.org/vladimir.

Vladimir's actual baby picture from a 1986 Marin Wildlife Center newsletter.

This is Vladimir’s ACTUAL baby photo!

An article from a 1986 edition of “Marin Wildlife News,”the newsletter of WildCare’s precursor organization, the Marin Wildlife Center, describes how Vladimir came to be an educational Wildlife Ambassador. He arrived at the Center in May of 1985.

Vladimir had been found as a tiny fluffy baby and was raised by humans. Unfortunately, as he grew into an adult vulture, he was too imprinted to be released. Turkey Vultures are notoriously difficult to raise in captivity, and these social birds imprint easily. Protocols have improved since the 1980s, but WildCare still takes great care to avoid imprinting when we admit a baby vulture. 

Attempts were made over the years to “wild” Vladimir with hopes he could be released, but all were in vain, so Vladimir remained as an educational animal for his entire life.

 

Vladimir the Turkey Vulture. Photo by Tom O'Connell

Over the many years Vladimir lived at WildCare, he taught untold numbers of people to love and appreciate vultures in general, and Turkey Vultures in particular.

These social and intelligent birds are truly remarkable. In order to digest their diet of dead and rotting meat, they have extraordinary stomach acid that has been proven to kill viruses and bacteria as potentially lethal as anthrax, botulism, and cholera.

Turkey Vultures have the largest olfactory system of all birds and they use their incredible sense of smell to find food as they soar high in the clouds with their wings in their telltale dihedral V shape (as Mrs. T always said, “V is for vulture!”)

To cool themselves off, Turkey Vultures will defecate on their own feet. This also serves to disinfect their feet and legs after a tromp through a rotting carcass. They also vomit when threatened… a truly disgusting reaction in the Wildlife Hospital when we have a vulture in care, and one Vladimir would also exhibit when it was time for his annual exam. What’s not to love about these birds?

Silhouette of Vlad. Photo: Trish Carney

In WildCare’s Courtyard, Vladimir would spread his wings in the classic vulture “horaltic pose”, giving himself the opportunity to warm his back and shoulders and visitors the opportunity to appreciate his impressive 6-foot wingspan and his gorgeous plumage — deep brown feathers with hints of iridescent blues and greens shimmering in the sun.

Vladimir seemed to enjoy being admired. He developed special relationships with his handlers (sometimes positive and sometimes negative!) and he clearly enjoyed tearing into special treats built by his fans out of papier-mâché or enrichment toys created by young Wildlife Camp attendees.

In the springtime, Vladimir would get broody and he would sometimes build a nest in a corner of his enclosure and guard it as a male vulture would do in the wild.

Our friends at FLOAT have redesigned and reissued our Turkey Vulture design as a special tribute to Vladdy, and you can get yours now until the design goes away forever on April 21st!

Pick from an array of shirt colors and styles, all featuring this beautiful rendering of Vladimir on the front, and “In loving memory of Vladimir the Turkey Vulture (1985 – 2025)” on the back. 

Each purchase through FLOAT also makes a donation to WildCare. 

Click to purchase your limited edition shirt now!

“My beloved Vladi, it was such an honor to know you. I started volunteering at Wildcare after a series of really tough losses and I was heavily grieving. You and I became fast friends and my ambassador shift on Mondays at Wildcare became the highlight of my week. We had our routine-I’d sit on the ground next to you and you’d wander on over and have a seat in your nest and we’d have a nice chat. I’d ask about your week, ask about your foot, and make sure you were taking your meds. I’d tell you about my week-the good and the bad-and you’d just sit there and listen and look at me with your beautiful, soulful grey eyes. It always made me feel so special when I’d come around to your house and you’d do your “hot stuff” walk over to me so we could sit and have our chat.

But these were just the day to day memories, and ones that I miss and will certainly cherish. Who you really are to me is a friend that Ive known for many lifetimes and hope to know for many more, and the strong but soft presence that carried me through one of the hardest periods of grief of my life. I love you my darling and will miss you until we meet again. Every time I see a Turkey Vulture-or a “Vladi-bird” as I now call them, I think of you.”

Kristal K.

I’d only remember seeing him at the old center, as I haven’t been to the new one yet. Looking back at these photos, I noticing in particular his beautiful shiny feathers & bright red head. Honestly very majestic looking & sweet, expressive eyes. Thank you for this wonderful tribute. I’ll miss him, soar high Vladimir!

Rachel G.

“Vlad,
I’m glad
To have met you in your pad.
Now I’m sad
But won’t feel bad
Because what a long life you had!
I hope you liked it!”

I remember when Trish made a huge papier mache cardboard pig or something. It obviously took a lot of time to make and I enjoyed watching Vlad rip it up!”

Carol M.

“As a Birdroom volunteer for the past 18 years, I have had the pleasure of enjoying Vlad on my workdays. Just passing him, talking nonsense, watching his nest building and ability to entertain himself when no one was near his cage to draw his attention was a sweet routine. When we moved to our current transition sight last fall, Vlad came in a private car to his new home. When he entered out new site his usual serious face looked confused and his body seemed frozen in this new environment. Just then, Ellen, our CEO, arrived, saw Vlad and went to the bottom of the cage. Vladimir saw her, someone he knew, and hustled down to Ellen, limping as fast as he could (arthtitis pain). Not exactly a picture for the arts, but there they sat, side by side, a fence between them – not to seperate – but to welcome each other to a new beginning! “What’s not to love about this bird”

Vladimir and WildCare grew for decades together…we were a family. I miss his wing-spreading morning greeting already…”

Gail M.

“…I came to believe that there was a lot more to this bird than I ever imagined. Perhaps he was less friendly and more territorial than I wanted to admit, but I know he had a connection with humans and this connection had the power to inspire interest and appreciation.

As a Terwilliger Nature Guide for WildCare, I’ve had the opportunity to teach school children about these fascinating birds made even more interesting by some of their gross-out behavior. As Mrs. T would say, ” V is for Vulture.” For us at WildCare, V was also for Vlad. He truly was beloved by all of us here. I know I will miss him dearly. But every time I look in the sky and see that wobbling V, I know that I will always be seeing Vlad in my heart.”

Jan B.

“Not in person, I want to express my sorrow at hearing about his death. It looked like a long relationship with you, so I also offer my condolences to you at WildCare. I will light a GIF candle on X for him.“

Candi A.

“RIP Vlady – I volunteered at wildcare many years ago and one of my fondest memories is when i was bringing in a mouse for vladimir’s meal and he jumped on top of my head thinking my graying hair was the food. what a character he was. he had a life full of care, interest and love – for that we can thank the wildcare team. blessings for Vladimir.“

Ionna R.

“I write this through tears, what a beautiful tribute to such a special bird.

My first experience with Vlad was in June of 2014. I had just been hired by Marin Humane to be their summer camp teacher and was participating in my “cross-training” where you get to work in other departments for a day. That particular day was my ride-along with the Animal Services Officers. We had picked up a pigeon who had flown into a window at a Marin grocery store and brought the bird to WildCare for treatment. After visiting the classic bird room, I got to spend some time in the WildCare courtyard. I was fascinated by Vlad and remembered how colorful his feathers were to me. I never knew vultures were actually so colorful if you get the chance to see one close enough! That experience made me appreciate vultures more and not be so intimidated by their presence. I am grateful for all the time I have been able to spend with Vlad since and will miss his ebony beauty.”

April L.

From daily visitors to WildCare to event attendees (Vladimir attended many Nature Lovers Balls and WildCare Galas with his handlers Alex Godbe and Mary Blake), Vladimir gained fans for himself, and for Turkey Vultures in general, wherever he was.

For so many people, Vladimir and WildCare were inextricably linked. He will be remembered with love and deep respect by everyone who came “nose to beak” with this incredible bird.

!