Rüppell's Griffon Vulture

*For the Eurasian griffon vulture click here*

## Background Information

### Alternate Name(s)

Rüppell's vulture, Rüppell's griffon, Rueppell's griffon vulture, Reuppell's vulture

## Classification

### Subspecies

G. r. reuppelli
G. r. erlangeri

Rüppell's griffon vulture ***(Gyps rueppelli)*** or just Rüppell's vulture, is large vulture species endemic to the sub-Saharan Sahel region of central Africa and a small area of the Iberian peninsula. Rüppell's vultures possess mottled dark brown and tan plumage, with white stripes under the wings and lighter coloured underbellies. The flight feathers are almost completely dark while the other feathers of the wings and body are tipped with cream, tan, and white and appear mostly solid white on the back, underbelly, chest and inner legs. The head and neck is mostly covered in sparse down against dark pinkish-brown skin. At the neck's base is a ruff or collar of fluffy white and brown feathers. The neck is fairly bare in order to discourage food matter from sticking to the bird's head and face and also regulates body temperature. One subspecies of Rüppell's vulture, ***(G. r. erlangeri)***, is distinguished from Rüppell's vulture, by its greyer plumage. One way to differentiate Rüppell's vulture from other species which exist in the same range, is by their bill, which is white or pale yellow in comparison to the black or grey bills of similar species. There is no morphological differences between sexes and both are relatively similar in size. Rüppell's vulture can grow to 85-107cm (33-42in) and can weigh up to 5.5-9kg (12-19.8lbs). They have a large wingspan which can stretch up to 2.2-2.5m (7.2-8.2ft).

## Diet

Like all vulture species, the Rüppell's vulture is a carnivorous scavenger. They particularly enjoy feeding on the freshly killed carcasses of Artiodactyl ungulates including livestock when available, but will happily feed on diseased carcasses and animals which have died of old age. They are social feeders and do not mind feeding upon a carcass with other Old World vulture species. Rüppell's vulture is also incredibly opportunistic and well-adapted to scavenging, being known to readily consume even the most unappealing parts of a carcass until they have eaten so much they can barely fly. A flock Rüppell's griffon vultures can clean off an antelope carcass in 20 minutes. Though they are extremely well-suited for carrion consumption, they are not the most dominant vulture in their range and do not eat first in feeding hierarchy situations.

## Conservation Status

The Rüppell's vulture is threatened by a multitude of human-caused factors and so, are classed as critically endangered by the IUCN. Rüppell's vulture is most threatened by poisonings via diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used on livestock for veterinarian purposes. In 2007, diclofenac had been found to have been sold and promoted in Tanzania as a veterinarian drug by a Brazilian manufacturer and then exported to 15 other African countries. This is a problem as NSAIDs like diclofenac are fatal when ingested by the ***(Gyps)*** genus and have already caused population detriment to the Eurasian griffon vulture ***(Gyps fulvus)***. Rüppell's vulture is also used in traditional African medicines and is common among west and central African fetish or voodoo markets. Over a six year study, 1,128-1,162 individuals were found to have been in circulation in these markets. The species has likely gone locally extinct in Nigeria as a result of trade exploitation and hunting for the species' use in traditional juju practices. These individuals were found in a west African market and likely represented a large portion of the total regional population. Egg poaching has also arose as a problem among the Malian populations, as the native Dogon peoples harvest eggs and chicks from the Hombori cliffs. Apparently the species is also internationally traded, as 30 individuals were intercepted by Italian authorities in 2005. Outside of these main threats, the vulture is also put at risk by habitat destruction and agricultural development, reduced food availability as a direct result of poaching and introduced slaughterhouse regulations, pollution, recreational hunting as well as casualties relating to electrocution vis powerlines. One conservation organisation, the Peregrine Fund, has been operating in Africa since the 1990s and was the first fund to place radio-transmitters on the vultures in order to track their movement patterns and monitor casualties via poisoning. In 2013, the fund aimed to raise awareness for the species via community driven efforts of the local Maasai people. Protective "bomas" for livestock protection. were also supplied to the Maasai people, to nullify and discourage the need for poisoning of livestock and vultures by extension.

## Range and Population

Rüppell's vulture is endemic to the Sahel region of Africa, an area of the continent which serves as a transitionary stage between the tropical sub-Sahara and the arid north. They have also been found in small non-breeding populations in the Iberian peninsula and northern Gibraltar. The Rüppell's vulture occurs in dry or arid grasslands and savannas, as well as other vast and expansive biomes, the characteristics of which aid in the species' hunting ability. Additionally, the species is frequently found in rocky cliffside or mountainous environments. The overall population of the species is around 22,000 mature individuals however, it is currently decreasing due to factors mentioned previously. The decline is apparent through the clear decrease in population since the 1990s, where the species likely numbered up to 30,000 mature individuals.

## Behaviour

Rüppell's griffon vulture is a social species that gathers in pairs or large colonies of up to 1,000 individuals in order to socialise, roost and feed. Though the Rüppell's griffon vulture is a non-migratory species, individuals are known to travel up to 150km (93.2mi) from their nest in search of a carcass and juveniles have been known to travel even further in search of both carcasses and potential mates. While an adult vulture is surveying the land for food, it will fly at an altitude of up to 11,000m (36,089ft) for 6-7 hours at a time. It was discovered that the species could fly at such altitudes allegedly because an individual was sucked into the engine of a plane flying above Cote d'Ivoire (the Ivory Coast). Once a carcass is discovered via eyesight, Rüppell's griffon vultures are one the first of any species to feed, as they are one of the largest in the feeding hierarchy however, one species, the lappet-faced vulture ***(Torgos tracheliotos)***, takes priority due to its larger size. They are most vocal during feeding and protect territory, when they vocalise with competitors to assert dominance over food and nesting range respectively. Finally, they will communicate when flying in pairs however, for the most part Rüppell's griffon vulture is a silent species. The Rüppell's griffon vulture is a monogamous species and breeds year round, in a period which lasts for around 13 months. Breeding seasons are almost always a result of an abundance in resources, typically effects brought on by wet season conditions. When courting, the Rüppell's griffon vulture will fly in front of a potential mate close to a cliffside where they typically nest. One egg is produced and hatched after 55 days. The parents will both care for and defend the chick until independence. They will breed again once the chick has fully-fledged, which takes only 150 days. Following fledging, a chick will gain independence from their parents however, they will not grow their adult feathers until reaching 5-6 years of age, possibly coinciding with their sexual maturation.

### Relationship with Humans

The Rüppell's griffon vulture is perceived as a threat to livestock and agriculture however, the species is actually quite beneficial in restricting disease transmission to livestock. They do this by eating disease ridden carrion from farm outskirts which discourages disease transmission.

## In Captivity

The Rüppell's griffon vulture is uncommon in zoos due to its status as a critically endangered species however, some zoos which does house the vultures are the Smithsonian's National Zoo, Washington D.C and Indianapolis Zoo, Indiana, USA. The Smithsonian's National Zoo has a breeding pair of vultures, Tuck and Natalie.

## Sources

* IUCN Red List of Threatened Species - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695207/204723468
* Rüppell's Griffon Vulture | Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%BCppell%27s\_vulture
* Rüppell's Griffon Vulture | Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology - https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Gyps\_rueppellii/
* Rüppell's Griffon Vulture | Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation, Biology Institute - https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/ruppells-griffon-vulture
* Rüppell's Griffon Vulture | The Peregrine Fund - https://www.peregrinefund.org/explore-raptors-species/vultures/ruppells-vulture
* Rüppell's Griffon | Oiseaux Birds - https://www.oiseaux-birds.com/card-rueppell-griffon.html