The bearded vulture also known as lammergeier is the only member of the genus Gypaetus. They include eagles, buzzards, kites, and hawks. These are the largest flying birds in the world and are found in Europe, Africa and Asia. The Old World vultures includes nine species in three genera. If there were no vultures, the entire food chain would collapse, and life in the Mara – Serengeti as it is today would not be the same. They recycle 70% of all the nutrients and all the dead animals that die in the Mara – Serengeti. In the Mara – Serengeti Eco system vultures perform the most important role in the eco-system and are the most important of the creatures found there. There are several different species of vultures. Vultures are large birds that have bald heads and long necks. Vultures are one of the most well-known scavengers is the vulture. Additionally, they provide important nutrients to the soil when they defecate. The also help control the spread of diseases by eating dead animals that have died of disease. But one vulture species provides a powerful reminder that conservation efforts can change the fate of species on the brink of extinction.These birds typically feed on the carcasses of other animals, which can help to clean up the environment. Wildlife is declining at alarming rates globally and, as a wildlife conservationist, it is easy to feel despondent. For example, the totem of a clan in the Akan traditional area in Ghana is a vulture, symbolising calmness and patience. In many cultures, vultures are a totem (an animal that acts as an emblem of a family or clan). Tibetans believe the vultures take the remains of the body to the heavens, allowing the soul to be reincarnated. Dead community members are often taken to high altitudes so their corpses can be consumed by the birds. In Tibetan culture, vultures are viewed as sacred and holy. Today, condors are still viewed as the spirit of the Andes by indigenous peoples, and are the national bird of Bolivia, Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. They have long been associated with power, strength and wisdom. Nick Fox/ShutterstockĬondors, a type of vulture found in the Americas, have been depicted in artwork across the Andean region of South America since 2500BC. The king vulture ranges from Mexico to Argentina. In some Asian countries, vultures have declined by 96% in the last ten years. Harmful chemicals have been a major cause of vulture population crashes across Europe, Africa and Asia. It was banned in some South Asian countries after conservationists campaigned to raise awareness that diclofenac was the main cause of collapsing vulture populations. Diclofenac can also pose a serious threat to aquatic animals, plants and mammals. In this way, declines in vultures could highlight pollutants in the environment that may be harmful to many other species, including humans.įor example, diclofenac, an anti-inflammatory drug widely used in livestock, can kill vultures even in small quantities. If these toxins are particularly dangerous, vultures that have fed on the chemical-filled body may struggle to reproduce, become ill or die. Vultures consume any toxins a carcass may have carried. Vultures act as a sentinel species, which are animals that are more susceptible to hazards in a habitat than humans. In some places in India, feral dogs have increased in numbers where vultures have declined, which has led to an increase in human cases of rabies. By the time land scavengers, such as hyenas and jackals, get to a carcass, it is likely to have been exposed to pathogens for longer. With their keen eyesight and flying skills, vultures can spot carrion faster than land scavengers. The study found animals’ bodies decomposed three times slower where vultures did not feed on a carcass. In the study, carcasses were placed in areas that were either visible (in the open) or not (under tree cover) to vultures. One study in Kenya found that where vultures were absent, carcasses are often hubs of infection. This recycling process is vital in reducing the spread of diseases, including those that can be transmitted between animals and humans. A group of vultures can pick a carcass clean within 20 minutes, meaning that any remains of the dead animal are not left to turn into a breeding ground for pathogens. There is no denying vultures are on the lookout for death. They are a symbol of hope and luck in places from Ghana to Chile to Tibet, and, if we let them, they can warn of environmental change and illegal activities. And they are often used to describe someone who benefits from the misfortune of others.īut vultures should be celebrated, rather than dreaded. In books and films, they usually appear as a forewarning of bad things to come. With their long, featherless necks and stern-looking faces, vultures are an easy target for people’s fear and loathing.
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