Vultures The heroes of the ecosystem

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The article discusses the importance of vultures as nature’s cleanup crew and the threats they face. Vultures play a crucial role in removing pathogens from the environment, but their populations have declined significantly due to factors such as poisoning from man-made chemicals and habitat loss. Conservation efforts, such as banning harmful drugs and implementing breeding programs, are being made to protect and repopulate vulture communities.

The Lappet-Faced Vulture: King of the Carcass

In the grasslands of Mauritania, a gazelle suffering from tuberculosis takes its last breath. Collapsing near a small pool, the animal’s corpse threatens to infect the water. However, for the desert’s cleanup crew, this body isn’t a problem: it’s a feast. Weighing up to 10 kilograms and possessing a wingspan of nearly 3 meters, the lappet-faced vulture is the undisputed king of the carcass. This bird’s powerful beak and strong neck easily tear through tough hide and muscle tissue, opening entry points for weaker vultures to dig in.

The Egyptian Vulture: Intelligence Over Size

This colossal competition is too dangerous for the tiny Egyptian vulture. With a wingspan of only 180 centimeters, this vulture migrated to Africa from his family nest in Portugal, using thermal updrafts to stay aloft for hours at a time. But upon arrival, he finds himself near the bottom of the pecking order. Fortunately, what he lacks in size, he makes up for in intelligence. A short distance away, he spots an unguarded ostrich nest, full of immense, but impenetrable eggs. Using a large rock, he smashes one open for a well-earned meal—though he’ll circle back to the gazelle once the larger birds are gone.

Ruppell’s Griffon Vultures: The High Flyers

High above the commotion are Ruppell’s Griffon vultures. Soaring at an altitude of over 11,000 meters, these birds fly higher than any other animal. At this height, they can’t see individual carcasses. But the sight of their fellow vultures guides them to the feeding. Their featherless heads help them regulate the sudden rise in temperature as they descend—and keep them clean as they tear into the decaying gazelle.

Vultures: Nature’s Cleanup Crew

The carcass is stripped clean in hours, well before the rotting meat infects the water supply. And the tuberculosis doesn’t stand a chance at infecting the vultures. These birds have evolved the lowest gastric pH in the animal kingdom, allowing them to digest diseased carrion and waste without becoming sick. In fact, species like the mountain-dwelling bearded vulture have stomachs so acidic, they can digest most bones in just 24 hours. This adaptation helps smaller vultures supplement their diet with dung, while larger vultures can consume diseased meat up to 3 days old. Their acidic stomachs protect them from living animals too: their rancid vomit scares off most predators.

The Threat to Vultures

These stomachs of steel are essential to removing pathogens like cholera, anthrax, and rabies from the African ecosystem. But while vultures can easily digest natural waste, man-made chemicals are another story. Diclofenac, a common veterinary drug used to treat cattle in India, is fatal to vultures. And because local religious beliefs prohibit eating beef, scavengers often consume cattle carcasses. Since the 1990s, the drug, along with threats from electricity pylons and habitat loss, has contributed to a 95% decline in the region’s vulture population.

The Impact of Vulture Decline

In nearby Africa, poachers intentionally poison carcasses to prevent the birds’ presence from alerting authorities to their location. One poisoned carcass can kill over 500 vultures. Today, more than 50% of all vulture species are endangered. In regions where vultures have gone extinct, corpses take three times longer to decay. These carcasses contaminate drinking water, while feral dogs and rats carry the diseases into human communities. The Asian and African Vulture Crisis has led to an epidemic of rabies in India, where infections kill roughly 20,000 people each year.

Conservation Efforts

Fortunately, some communities have already realized how important vultures are. Conservationists have successfully banned drugs like Diclofenac, while other researchers are working to repopulate vulture communities through breeding programs. Some regions have even opened vulture restaurants where farmers safely dispose of drug-free livestock. With help, vultures will be able to continue their role conserving the health of our planet—transforming death and decay into life.

  1. How does the lappet-faced vulture’s beak and strong neck help it dominate as the “king of the carcass”?
  2. What advantage does the Egyptian vulture have over larger vultures in finding food?
  3. How do Ruppell’s Griffon vultures navigate to feeding sites when they fly at such high altitudes?
  4. What adaptive feature do vultures have that allows them to digest diseased carrion and waste without becoming sick?
  5. What man-made chemical is fatal to vultures and how has it contributed to the decline in their population?
  6. How do poachers in Africa intentionally target vultures and what are the consequences of their actions?
  7. What is the impact of vulture decline on the decay process of carcasses and the spread of diseases?
  8. What conservation efforts are being made to protect vultures and their role in the ecosystem?
  1. Activity 1: Vulture Role-Play

    Imagine you are a lappet-faced vulture, an Egyptian vulture, or a Ruppell’s Griffon vulture. Write a short diary entry describing a day in your life. Include details about your habitat, what you eat, and how you interact with other vultures. Share your diary entry with the class.

  2. Activity 2: Vulture Adaptation Poster

    Create a poster that highlights the unique adaptations of vultures. Include information about their beaks, stomach acidity, and flying abilities. Use drawings or printed images to make your poster visually engaging. Present your poster to the class and explain why these adaptations are important for the vultures’ survival.

  3. Activity 3: Vulture Conservation Debate

    Split into two groups and hold a debate on the importance of vulture conservation. One group will argue for the conservation efforts, while the other will discuss the challenges and costs associated with these efforts. Use facts from the article to support your arguments. After the debate, discuss as a class what can be done to help protect vultures.

  4. Activity 4: Vulture Migration Map

    Research the migration patterns of the Egyptian vulture. Create a map that shows its journey from Portugal to Africa. Mark important stops and describe the challenges the vulture might face during its migration. Share your map with the class and explain how migration helps the vulture survive.

  5. Activity 5: Vulture Ecosystem Simulation

    In groups, create a simulation of an ecosystem without vultures. Discuss and write down what happens to the carcasses, water supply, and the spread of diseases. Then, simulate the same ecosystem with vultures present. Compare the two scenarios and discuss the importance of vultures in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. Present your findings to the class.

lappet-faced vulturea large African vulture with a distinctive fleshy lappet of skin on its face. – The lappet-faced vulture is known for its powerful beak and impressive wingspan.

carcassthe dead body of an animal. – The vultures descended upon the rotting carcass, feasting on the remains.

deserta barren and arid region with little or no vegetation. – The scorching sun beat down on the vast desert, leaving the landscape devoid of life.

cleanup crewa group of organisms responsible for cleaning up decaying organic matter. – Vultures and other scavengers form a vital part of the cleanup crew, ridding the environment of dead animals.

wingspanthe distance between the tips of a bird’s outstretched wings. – The majestic eagle soared across the sky, its impressive wingspan casting a shadow below.

beakthe hard, pointed mouthpart of a bird. – The toucan’s vibrant beak is not only visually striking but also serves various functions, including feeding and courtship.

muscle tissuethe specialized tissue responsible for movement in animals. – The lion’s powerful muscle tissue enables it to chase down its prey with incredible speed and strength.

Egyptian vulturea small vulture found in parts of Europe, Africa, and Asia, known for its white plumage and yellow face. – The Egyptian vulture is often associated with ancient Egyptian culture due to its appearance in hieroglyphs and artwork.

intelligencethe capacity for learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. – Dolphins are known for their high level of intelligence and ability to learn complex tasks.

ostrich nestthe structure built by female ostriches to incubate their eggs. – The female ostrich carefully tends to her eggs in the nest, protecting them from predators.

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