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Torgos tracheliotos
The Lappet-faced Vulture is the largest African vulture and one of the rarest. It is blackish with a red face and throat and conspicuous white thighs. Its formidable bill allows it to tear through the hides and muscles of large mammals, such as the blue wildebeest shown here.
Savanna; prefers arid conditions; nests and roosts on trees. Spotted here in the Masai Mara.
There is a pecking order in African vultures when they are working on a carcass. The order is determined by size and strength of beak. The Lappet-faced Vulture will tear the carcass open and attack the hide and offals. Smaller vultures will finish the job. A White-back Vulture and Rüppell's Vulture can be seen taking their turn on the same carcass at http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/733...
Spotted on Aug 28, 2011
Submitted on Oct 17, 2011
18 Comments
Ah yes, the smell! I'd forgotten about that!
Thanks Karen! The not so "pretty" side of nature... You're right about the sound, not to mention the smell!
Great photo Daniele!
The only time I've ever seen vultures at work was in India when we spotted about a dozen of them making short work of a donkey carcass. The sound effects of the tearing flesh were much more gruesome than the sight of all the blood & guts.
Please consider putting this spotting in the ‘Hunter’ mission at
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8463...
Thanks for your comment sugarshack. The vulture is actually on top of a blue wildebeest (which most likely was killed by a a lion in the first place).
Its cool to be able to go to Keya! is that bird on top of a lion!
Thanks, looking forward to your expert comments on the Eurasian Griffon.
Great news about the banning of diclofenac Satyen! And it seems to be working. The spotting of the Eurasian Griffon is fantastic. I'm checking but this may be the only one we have from India.
Great find Daniele. In India BNHS is working for stopping the use of the medicine Diclofenac. Seen a Eurasian Griffon http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/728...
Also seen a white rumped vulture....will upload soon.
i have seen it Daniele you had posted it in your previous spotting.
yes they are drastically declining,a few of my friends had spotted them way up in north India...
I hope you do get to see them one day... And Ashish, thanks for your comment!
I have read that vultures are on the decline in India... I don't know if you saw this document one my of my previous spottings Atul. It's not that recent but interesting anyway:
http://envfor.nic.in/divisions/wildlife/...
would love to see them
very very long time ago when in school we had school Trip i remember our guide showing us vultures .....
Great scavengers...!!
Have you seen those in the flesh anywhere Atul?
stunning its been long that i have seen these .......
Thanks for your comment AldrinAbanLuzares. Nature can be gritty, particularly when you're part of the food chain...