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White-Backed Vulture
White-backed vultures are key players in maintaining the health of their ecosystems by efficiently cleaning up carcasses before they can become breeding grounds for disease. These birds are social creatures, often seen feeding in large groups, although they breed and roost in smaller, more dispersed communities. They possess an incredible flight capability, utilising thermal updrafts to soar and glide for hours with minimal effort, which allows them to cover large distances in search of food. Despite their resilience and adaptability, white-backed vultures are facing a dramatic decline in numbers due to human activities. Conservation measures are urgently needed to address the threats they face, such as the establishment of vulture safe zones and stricter enforcement of wildlife protection laws, to ensure their survival and continued role as nature’s cleanup crew.
Scientific Name: Gyps africanus
- Habitat: White-backed vultures are widely distributed across sub-Saharan Africa, favouring open savanna, grasslands, and woodlands, where they can easily find carrion and thermal updrafts for soaring.
- Diet: Scavengers, primarily feeding on the carcasses of dead animals. They play a crucial role in the ecosystem by preventing the spread of disease through their feeding habits.
- Physical Characteristics: White-backed vultures have a body length of about 78-98 cm (31-39 inches) and a wingspan of 2.1-2.3 meters (7-7.5 feet). They have dark brown plumage with a lighter, almost white back, visible in flight. Their head and neck are nearly bare, with only a thin layer of down, adapted for hygiene while scavenging.
- Lifespan: They can live up to 25 years in the wild.
- Reproduction: White-backed vultures are monogamous, with both parents sharing responsibilities of building the nest, incubating the egg, and feeding the chick. They typically lay one egg per year, with an incubation period of about 55-56 days.
- Conservation Status: Classified as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, facing significant threats from poisoning, habitat loss, and hunting. The decline in wild ungulate populations also affects their food availability.
White-Backed Vultures at Chipangali
Garth
Species: White Backed Vulture
Age on Arrival: Fully grown
Arrival Date: 15 August 2019
Sex: Male
Garth’s Story: Garth’s narrative is marked by a tragic encounter with human infrastructure, resulting in severe injuries that forever altered his flight. The sanctuary’s intervention, offering him a haven following the amputation of his wing, highlights the critical challenges faced by wildlife in an ever-encroaching human landscape. Garth’s presence at Chipangali serves as a stark reminder of the consequences of habitat encroachment and the sanctuary’s vital role in conservation and education.
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