Gyps rueppelli
CR

Gyps rueppelli

Local name: Rüppell's Vulture

Declining

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

Rüppell's Vulture faces severe population declines across its African range due to widespread poisoning, both intentional and incidental, along with habitat loss and reduced food availability. The species has experienced catastrophic declines of over 80% in recent decades, making it one of Africa's most critically endangered raptors. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but the overall trajectory remains deeply concerning.

Threat summary

Habitat

Forest· majorGrassland· majorRocky areas· major

Conservation measures underway

Invasive/problematic species controlSpecies managementSpecies recoveryAwareness & communicationsLegislation

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Lappet-faced Vulture

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AoudadVU

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Humped BladderwortCR

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Utricularia gibba

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Blind SnailVU

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Cecilioides acicula

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Frequently asked questions

Why is Rüppell's Vulture classified as Critically Endangered?
Rüppell's Vulture is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Rüppell's Vulture faces severe population declines across its African range due to widespread poisoning, both intentional and incidental, along with habitat loss and reduced food availability. The species has experienced catastrophic declines of over 80% in recent decades, making it one of Africa's most critically endangered raptors. Conservation status may vary by region or assessment authority, but the overall trajectory remains deeply concerning.
Where does Rüppell's Vulture live?
Rüppell's Vulture occurs in Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, and Côte d’Ivoire (plus 20 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Rüppell's Vulture?
The main threats to Rüppell's Vulture are 11.1, 2.3, 5.1, and 5.1.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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