Birds
Rüppell's vulture
Gyps rueppellii
Rüppell’s vulture is one of the highest-flying birds in the world, recorded at over 11,000 metres. A gregarious scavenger of the African savannas, it has plunged into an extinction crisis.
In short
The rüppell's vulture (Gyps rueppellii) is a species with IUCN conservation status CR (Critically endangered). It lives in savanna, grassland and open mountainous country, nesting in colonies on cliff faces. Animals in Black offers a fine-art portrait of it on a black background, available as a print on Hahnemühle paper: request the print.
Habitat & conservation
Where does the rüppell's vulture live?
It lives in savanna, grassland and open mountainous country, nesting in colonies on cliff faces. It covers huge distances searching for carcasses, spotting them with keen eyesight and gliding on thermals.
Is the rüppell's vulture endangered?
Rated Critically Endangered (CR) with a steeply declining population. The main threats are poisoning (often indirect, from baits meant for predators), habitat loss and the use of body parts in traditional medicine.
Facts about the rüppell's vulture
- It is among the highest-flying birds, reaching over 11,000 metres.
- It nests in colonies on cliff faces.
- Poisoned carcasses are its gravest threat.
Data source: IUCN Red List — Gyps rueppellii (Critically Endangered) · BirdLife International
RED List
Conservation status codes
- EX Extinct No individuals survive.
- EW Extinct in the wild Survives only in captivity.
- CR Critically endangered Extremely high risk of extinction.
- EN Endangered Very high risk of extinction.
- VU Vulnerable High risk of extinction.
- NT Near threatened Likely to become threatened soon.
- LC Least concern Low risk of extinction.
- DD Data deficient Not enough data to assess.
- NE Not evaluated Not yet assessed by the IUCN.