Rüppell's Griffon
Gyps rueppelli
Conservation Status
Critically EndangeredAves · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae
About
Rüppell's vulture, also called Rüppell's griffon vulture, a species of vulture named after Eduard Rüppell, is a large, resident bird of prey, mainly native to the Sahel region and East Africa. It is considered to be the highest-flying bird, with confirmed evidence of a flight at an altitude of 11,300 m (37,000 ft), where the average temperature is about −56 °C (−69 °F). The former population of 22,000 individuals has been decreasing due to loss of habitat, incidental poisoning, and other factors. It is therefore listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Fun Fact
One evaluation of 10 poisoning events found that each event caused the death of 37 to 600 individuals.
Quick Facts
Habitat
To be updated
Diet
Feed on animals that have died from injuries, disease, or old age.
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Destruction
- Pollution
- Invasive Species
- Over-Collection
- Climate Change