Gyps rueppellii
CR

Gyps rueppellii

Local name: Rüppell's Vulture

Unknown

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

Inhabits arid and semi-arid savannas, grasslands, and desert margins across sub-Saharan Africa, typically nesting on cliff faces and rocky outcrops. Forages over vast areas of open terrain, relying on thermal updrafts to soar efficiently while searching for carrion.

TERRESTRIAL· majorTERRESTRIAL· major

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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 across multiple regions. 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 ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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