Eurasian Griffon Vulture

*For the Rüppell's griffon vulture click here*

## About

A griffon vulture perched on a rock.

The Eurasian griffon vulture ***(Gyps fulvus)*** or simply griffon, is a large species of Old World vulture which inhabits a vast range across Africa, Asia and Europe. Griffon vultures are covered almost completely in brown or tan plumage, with the exception of their ruff, tail and flight feathers, which are off-white and dark brown or black respectively. The face and neck are finely feathered and vary from white to tan to yellow in colour. The skin on the head, legs and feet is bluish-grey while the skin on the neck is a reddish-pink colour. The bill is white, yellow or light grey and hooked. Griffon vultures are incredibly large birds and relatively large vultures, males growing to a length of 93–122cm (37–48in) and weighing around 6.2 to 10.5kg (13.6 to 23lbs), while females are slightly heavier on average weighing 6.5 to 10.5kg (14.3 to 23lbs). The wings of the griffon vulture are broad and rectangular, amounting to a wingspan of 2.3–2.8m (7.5–9.1ft). Morphological differences in the sexes are very minute and both males and females have relatively the same wingspan.

## Diet

The griffon vulture is an opportunistic scavenger and uses its sight to survey vast areas in flocks in search for carrion. They will consume any carcasses available to them, including those of diseased humans. In feeding hierarchies where birds like Egyptian vultures ***(Neophron percnopterus)***, crows, ravens and other scavenging birds are present, griffon vultures will usually feed first, as they are avoided by other species for their large and intimidating size. They eat the softer parts of the carcass, such as muscle tissue and viscera and their sparsely feathered heads discourage waste matter from sticking to plumage.

## Conservation Status

Griffon vultures are classed as least concern by the IUCN however, they still face a multitude of threats to their population. The species suffered a massive decline in the 19th-20th centuries throughout its European, Middle Eastern and north African range as a direct result of poison lures and baits intended to kill livestock predators. In the present much of these accidental killings have been reduced however, the species may still be purposefully or unintendedly poisoned in areas of central Asia, eastern Europe and possibly the Middle East. In the years between 2000-2010 2,146 griffon vultures were killed in poisoning incidents in Spain alone and poisonings still remain the species' most pressing threat. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), -which are typically used for veterinary purposes- threaten the griffon vulture through similar poisonings. An NSAID known as flunixin caused casualties in Spain in 2012 and another NSAID, Diclofenac, was legalised in the nation in 2013, despite it being tied to frequent and immense casualties in Asian populations. Diclofenac was later found in the carcasses of livestock throughout the Iberian peninsula in the years between 2013-2019 and was later found to have caused the death of a griffon vulture in 2021. Deaths of this nature were incredibly frequent prior to diclofenac's legalisation during the 20th century and vultures were very often found to have died from toxins found in livestock carcasses. Hunting practices harboured similar results, as lead bullet fragments found in carrion would commonly poison vultures. in 2001, the EU administered a ban against the dumping of livestock carcasses in fields in an effort to cushion and lessen the effects of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (mad cow) however, this legislation greatly reduced available food sources for resident griffon vultures, causing the species to move to garbage dumps, where heavy metals like lead were easily accidently ingested. Through an analysis of the corpses of 121 individuals, lead was found apparent in every vulture's blood stream, with concentrations of the metal ranging from 4.97-300.23μg/dl (micrograms per decilitre). As a result, accidental and illegal poisoning of griffon vultures remains the largest cause of non-natural mortality among all birds of prey. In some areas of its range, the griffon vulture faces threats of food availability reduction due to improvements in slaughterhouse sanitation and other livestock regulations, decreasing the amount of available carcasses. Wind development has proven to be detrimental to the species' survival and electrocution via powerlines effects the species similarly.

## Range and Population

Griffon vultures inhabit an incredibly vast range spreading across north Africa, much of Asia including the Middle East, India and the former Soviet states and fragmented areas of southern Europe including the Balkans, Italy and Iberia. Griffon vultures occur in a variety of environments but prefer open areas without much obstruction, such as grasslands, savannas and shrublands which allow them to hunt more effectively. They also occur prolifically in mountainous and alpine areas, being found at elevations of up to 3,000m (9,842.5ft) and usually soaring at heights of up to 10,000m (32,808ft). Griffon vultures suffered regional extinctions in Chad and surrounding nations as well and the northern and central Balkans. After suffering declines in the 20th century, griffon vultures have been introduced to some areas of Europe, namely Italy, France and Bulgaria during a ten year period from 2010-2020. With the establishment phase of the program being completed, analysis of the program's first effects have been conducted. In Bulgaria's Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, 61 rehabilitated captive-bred vultures from acclimatisation aviaries in Spain and France were released and first breeding events were noted in 2015, marking the first nesting of the species in Bulgaria for over 60 years. In 2020, the program concluded that the nation now harboured 3-5 colonies of 55-70 individuals, 20-23 of which were breeding pairs which had produced 46 chicks in the ten year time frame. In France reintroduction has also been successful, with an estimated 500 individuals being extant in the nation after their reintroduction to Massif Central. Today the have also been sighted occupying the Chantal mountains. In Italy, the griffon vulture had went extinct on the mainland, only existing on the Island of Sardinia, until reintroduction efforts were made. Today, Italian populations are thought to be experiencing a massive increase due to these efforts. The population of the griffon vulture in Europe was estimated at 34,800-44,700 pairs and 69,600-89,400 mature individuals in total according to the most recent IUCN surveys and this is thought to represent 10% of the global populous. Applying this in reality results in a global population of 696,000-894,000 mature individuals however, this is thought to be an optimistic estimate and the population is more realistically judged at 80,000-900,000 individuals. The use of poisons still causes decrease in the population.

## Behaviour

The griffon vulture is a partially migratory vulture and some individuals have exhibited overwintering in Africa, whilst others have not shown signs of migration. Though vultures tend to migrate in solitude, they may congregate in flocks of up to 15 individuals and will form lose colonies around breeding grounds, which are established in rocky outcroppings of cliffsides. During the breeding season which begins in late autumn, a pair will breed on these cliffs, before laying a single egg in the months between January-April. The incubation period lasts around 55 days. The nest is constructed mainly by the male from twigs, branches and sticks and is platform-like in form. The colony will roost and socialise in these areas. Vultures which produce eggs in covered nests such as in caves, holes and other enclosed cavities will raise more successful young which are less susceptible to predation, whilst vultures which produce eggs in open spaces like ledges and cliff edges will harbour less-successful young. Vultures will only resort to nesting in less desirable locations when typically nest-spots are overcrowded. Breeding season typically ends in July and August when chicks have fledged and left the nest (around 110-120 days after hatching). Juveniles are quick to disperse from nests once fledged and will embark on long-distance travels. Pairs are monogamous and will breed once again the following breeding season.

### Relationship with Humans

Griffon vultures are commonly poisoned accidently through use of toxins throughout their range. Evidence may suggest that tourism disturbs the species. After a 54 year old woman fell from a cliff and died while hiking the Pyrenees mountain ranges in March, 2013, griffon vultures quickly consumed her corpse, leaving little other than clothes and bones. Stigma around vultures has always been prevalent among the public for their scavenging nature and grotesque lifestyle according to many however, this event worsened many people's opinion on griffon vultures in particular, as the death made global headlines. She was the first and most recent human to be eaten by griffon vultures.

## In Captivity

Griffon vultures are common in captivity, being housed at over 80 facilities across Europe, Asia and North America. Much of the griffon vulture's current reintroduction and further population increase can be owed to captive breeding efforts that many of these zoos partake in.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695219/157719127
* Eurasian Griffon Vulture | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian\_griffon\_vulture
* Griffon Vulture | Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) - https://4vultures.org/vultures/griffon-vulture/
* The breeding season of reintroduced Griffon Vultures in Bulgaria has already begun with the first incubating pairs observed | VCF - https://4vultures.org/blog/the-breeding-season-of-reintroduced-griffon-vultures-in-bulgaria-has-already-begun-with-the-first-incubating-pairs-observed/
* Results of the re-introduction of the Griffon Vulture (*Gyps fulvus*) in Vrachanski Balkan Nature Park, Bulgaria – completion of the establishing phase 2010–2020 | Biodiversity Data Journal - https://bdj.pensoft.net/article/100834/
* Western Griffon Vulture | ZOOINSTITUTES - https://zooinstitutes.com/animals/western-griffon-vulture-810/