![FOR THE LOVE OF BIRDS](https://cdn.magzter.com/1359122596/1697628545/articles/nrDzYLMot1697808113449/FOR-THE-LOVE-OF-BIRDS.jpg)
IT’S not a request you hear every day: “Do you have a dead vulture in your fridge you can donate to me?”
But specialist wildlife vet Katja Koeppel knew the people from VulPro, an organisation that protects vultures, wouldn’t find it strange at all.
Katja was desperately trying to save the life of a white-backed vulture that had been hit by a car and needed a donor bird. The white-backed vulture’s one eye was injured and her beak was so badly damaged she had to be fed with tongs.
“We attached an acrylic prosthesis with orthopaedic threadwork to what was left of her beak,” says Katja, who works at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of veterinary science.
But within a week the pros- thetic became unstable. Katja returned her patient to VulPro, which had originally rescued the bird, with the instruction she should be kept in isolation and at first just be given small pieces of meat.
It broke Katja’s heart to watch it struggling. “She became depressed so she was allowed back with the other vultures.”
This story is from the 26 October 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the 26 October 2023 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![Our top picks to listen to and watch](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/be_00KLl11718285765213/OUR-TOP-PICKS-TO-LISTEN-TO-AND-WATCH.jpg)
Our top picks to listen to and watch
The HOTTEST things in POP CULTURE and ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK
![QUEEN OF THE COURT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/xGdZnQzPC1718287703673/QUEEN-OF-THE-COURT.jpg)
QUEEN OF THE COURT
She's just won her fifth Grand Slam title and at 23 tennis star Iga Świątek is only getting started!
![WE'RE ON A MISSION TO HELP](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/KW564HPr91718284265040/WERE-ON-A-MISSION-TO-HELP.jpg)
WE'RE ON A MISSION TO HELP
The Olifants have started an ambulance service for animals from less fortunate communities
![BARBER TO THE BOKS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/WjQT4NVkz1718287557481/BARBER-TO-THE-BOKS.jpg)
BARBER TO THE BOKS
He's been cutting hair for almost 50 years. But it's the more than 40 jackets and signed jerseys from Springbok players whose hair he's done that make him a cut above the rest
![THE SCIENCE OF DEATH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/bMDlgE0ry1718287157930/THE-SCIENCE-OF-DEATH.jpg)
THE SCIENCE OF DEATH
New research into the dying brain suggests the line between life and death may be far less distinct than previously thought
![WE TALK ABOUT Colombia's underwater treasure quest](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/fMj4LT2lQ1718286507883/WE-TALK-ABOUT-COLOMBIAS-UNDERWATER-TREASURE-QUEST.jpg)
WE TALK ABOUT Colombia's underwater treasure quest
COLOMBIA is launching a historic underwater expedition to explore a ship that sank in the Caribbean more than 300 years ago.
![UNFORGETTABLE READS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/wcYEQQmrm1718286248131/UNFORGETTABLE-READS.jpg)
UNFORGETTABLE READS
These new releases all offer something surprising and unexpected
![EAT YOUR FILL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/6Le2NWT1r1718284646934/EAT-YOUR-FILL.jpg)
EAT YOUR FILL
Trying to lose weight? Stock up on the foods that trigger the release of the same 'fullness' hormone as the weight-loss drug Ozempic
![ROMANTIC RUPERT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/VEgrH6HGH1718283913313/ROMANTIC-RUPERT.jpg)
ROMANTIC RUPERT
Retired media tycoon Rupert Murdoch is a sucker for love and at 93 he's got married - again!
![RUNNING STRONG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/x51zmyjLY1718283154946/RUNNING-STRONG.jpg)
RUNNING STRONG
This Roodepoort mom has lost half her body weight - and she's just done her second Comrades