White-rumped Vulture
Gyps bengalensis
The white-rumped vulture is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined.
14
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-rumped_vulture
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Aves
Order
Accipitriformes
Family
Accipitridae
Genus
Gyps
White-rumped Vulture belongs to the family Accipitridae, order Accipitriformes, within the Aves class.
Species Profile
The white-rumped vulture is an Old World vulture native to South and Southeast Asia. It has been listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List since 2000, as the population severely declined. White-rumped vultures are threatened by diclofenac poisoning, which kills them by causing kidney failure. As of 2021, the global population was estimated at less than 6,000 mature individuals. In comparison, during the 1980s, the global population was estimated at several million individuals, and it was thought to be "the most abundant large bird of prey in the world".
The White-rumped Vulture has experienced one of the most catastrophic population declines in avian history, with populations crashing by over 99% since the 1990s. The primary cause is diclofenac poisoning from livestock carcasses, which causes fatal kidney failure in vultures. Additional threats include habitat loss, food scarcity, and secondary poisoning from other veterinary drugs.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
This vulture builds its nest on tall trees often near human habitations in northern and central India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and southeast Asia, laying one egg. Birds form roost colonies. The population is mostly resident. Like other vultures it is a scavenger, feeding mostly on carcasses, which it finds by soaring high in thermals and spotting other scavengers. A 19th century experimenter...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The White-rumped Vulture has experienced one of the most catastrophic population declines in avian history, with populations crashing by over 99% since the 1990s. The primary cause is diclofenac poisoning from livestock carcasses, which causes fatal kidney failure in vultures. Additional threats include habitat loss, food scarcity, and secondary poisoning from other veterinary drugs.
Diclofenac poisoning from veterinary drug residues in livestock carcasses
Other veterinary drug toxicity (ketoprofen, aceclofenac)
Habitat loss and degradation
Human disturbance at nesting and roosting sites
Reduced food availability due to changes in livestock practices
Agricultural & forestry effluents
Herbicides & pesticides (diclofenac poisoning)
Hunting & trapping terrestrial animals
Intentional poisoning of carcasses
Livestock farming & ranching
Logging & wood harvesting
Marine & freshwater aquaculture
Conservation Actions
Found in 14 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nepal | CRCritically Endangered | CRCritically Endangered | Same |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/white-rumped-vulture