Griffon Vulture

Gyps fulvus

The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), often called the Eurasian griffon, is a large Old World vulture of southern Europe, North Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia. It has broad wings, a pale tawny body, dark flight feathers, a white neck ruff and a sparsely feathered head suited to feeding inside carcasses. Griffons nest colonially on cliffs and soar for long distances over mountains, steppe and pastoral landscapes. Their food is carrion from wild ungulates and livestock, located by sight as birds circle and follow one another to carcasses.

This is not a private-ownership species; human care is mainly in zoos, raptor centers, rehabilitation facilities and reintroduction programs. Large flight aviaries, low-stress handling and strict hygiene are needed because wing condition and foot health determine release potential. Conservation work often includes safe supplementary feeding sites, anti-poison campaigns, power-line risk reduction and monitoring of nesting colonies. Veterinary drug residues in carcasses, lead from ammunition and deliberate poisoning can harm vultures, so livestock policy and hunting practice are part of the species' management picture.