Rüppell's Vulture, also known as Rüppell's Griffon Vulture, is a large, high-flying vulture with mottled brown and white plumage. Its featherless, pale head and neck are adapted for its scavenging lifestyle, as they stay cleaner when feeding on carcasses. The bird's wingspan is impressively broad, enabling it to soar over vast areas in search of food.
These vultures are found in the Sahel region of Africa, inhabiting grasslands, savannas, and mountainous areas. Rüppell’s Vultures are often seen in large groups, particularly around carcasses, where they scavenge alongside other vultures. They have an excellent sense of sight, allowing them to spot carrion from great heights, and they are known for their ability to fly at extreme altitudes — reaching heights of up to 37,000 feet.
Like many vultures, they play a crucial ecological role by cleaning up animal remains. Unfortunately, Rüppell’s Vultures are listed as Critically Endangered due to threats like habitat loss, poisoning, and illegal hunting. These factors have caused sharp population declines across their range
We're celebrating Vulture Week because this Saturday, September 6th, marks International Vulture Awareness Day (IVAD). This commemorative day has been celebrated since at least 2009 and aims to highlight the importance of vultures and vulture conservation through education. Vultures around the world are in trouble. Over half of the... Read more »
