Blonde receives invitations to participate in hang-gliding events across the country.
Owner charges R$1,2 fee for vulture to be present.
Glauco Araújo
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Loira is by Célio's side everywhere (Photo: Célio Luiz da Silva/Personal Archive)Rural producer Célio Luiz da Silva, 38, has had a female pet vulture for almost five years in Cambuí, Minas Gerais. According to him, his best friend, named Loira, has been paying his bills in recent months.
See photos of the Blonde Vulture
"She's in high demand to participate in events, especially hang gliding. Because of this, her pay isn't cheap and it's paying my bills. She even helps with that," said Celinho D'urubu, as the rural producer is known.
Blonde Vulture admires himself in front of the mirror (Photo: Célio Luiz da Silva/Personal Archive)
He's a hang glider and always takes Loira flying with him. "For her to participate in an event, the fee is R$1,2 for three days, plus transportation and lodging," Celinho said.
The rural producer said that Loira helps improve the performance of hang gliders. "Because she always seeks thermals (hot air that lifts the flyer upwards) to fly, she recommends it to hang gliders."
Célio Luiz da Silva/Personal Archive\ Loira accompanies Celinho in hotels during trips (Photo: Célio Luiz da Silva/Personal Archive) sport where it is better to position ourselves to maintain altitude", said Celinho.\
Lodging\ Since he's always traveling with Loira, Celinho said he has no problem securing a place in the hotel room. "It's a party. Everyone wants to take a picture with her. I've never had a problem staying with her in the same room as me. I sleep in the bed and she sleeps in the bathroom stall."\
Only in picanha\ The blonde eats fresh meat. "Everyone thinks that vultures only eat carrion. The blonde doesn't. If you let her, she'll even eat picanha. When she's at events, the organizers always leave a special picanha steak for her."\
Despite her excellent culinary taste, Loira often has relapses. "She also loves eating pig skulls, but I get them fresh from the butcher. The animal's head is cleaned just for her to eat. Sometimes she even sleeps with the pig's head on," said the farmer.
On a daily basis, Loira eats 50 grams of ground beef. "That's enough to keep her fed for three days," Celinho explained. "When she has a birthday, everyone makes a point of throwing her a party. We even have ground beef cake and rib cake."
Maracanã\ A Flamengo fan (the team whose mascot is the vulture), Celinho dreams of taking Loira for a flight over the Maracanã pitch before a match of the Rio de Janeiro team. "I would paraglide down and she would come right next to me. It would be the realization of my life."\
He said his only fear is that Loira will land on the opposing team's fans. "She's very innocent, and I'm worried she'll land on the opposing team's fans and get attacked. The ideal situation would be to fly during a friendly match," Celinho said.