Woodland Park Zoo is thrilled to welcome a pair of massive marabou storks! These feathery friends, native to Africa, stand between 4 to 5 feet tall and boast a wingspan of up to 10 feet. 

The male, Olaf, 8, and the female, Abigail, 4, are now viewable to the public in the zoo’s Temperate Forest across from the maned wolves; they are sharing the same habitat as the zoo’s other new feathered residents—two critically endangered hooded vultures. 

Similar to vultures, the marabou storks are primarily scavengers feeding off dead animals, as well as fish, insects and food scraps from humans. The birds provide an essential ecosystem service by rapidly consuming animal remains, helping prevent the spread of disease. 

These large birds are bald and beautiful with no feathers on their neck and head. Their backs and wings showcase slate-gray feathers that contrast with their white plumage underside. 

Marabou storks are not considered a threatened species, but loss of habitat remains their greatest threat.