#811: Vulture

The Vulture may not be the prettiest bird in the world, but he is essential to the environment. He acts as nature's cleaner, scavenging the bits of the animal that no other predator can manage. Vultures will even eat blood-soaked sand. Vulture species fall into two categories: Old World and New World. The Old World species inhabit Africa, Europe and Asia. Vultures are in sharp decline, especially in India and Nepal. A drug used on animals in that part of the world, Diclofenac, is thought to be the major cause. In Africa they are also suffering from poisoning and habitat loss.


This fellow, the Ruppell's Vulture, is the highest flying bird in the world - sighted at 11, 300 m above sea level. He is Critically Endangered.