One of the 6 old world vultures on WAnimals
Birds · Accipitriformes · Accipitridae
Cape Vulture
Gyps coprotheres
It faces a high risk of extinction in the wild over the medium term. See full glossary
The Cape vulture is the largest vulture in southern Africa and the only one endemic to the region. It breeds in colonies on rock faces and depends on extensive livestock farming for food. Its threats are many: poisoning, collisions with power lines and wind turbines, and capture for the traditional medicine trade, in which its brains are eaten in the belief that they confer the power to see the future.
Weight
7 kg – 11 kg
Size
96 cm – 1.2 m
Lifespan
40 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Diurnal
Active mainly during the day.
Social structure
Colony
Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.
Sighting difficulty
Moderate
Fun facts
- The chicks need bone fragments to build their skeletons, and the adults collect them at so-called vulture restaurants: sites where carcasses and bone splinters were traditionally left, and which are now deliberately managed as a conservation measure.
- Part of its mortality comes from traditional medicine: its sharp eyesight has earned it a reputation for seeing the future, and its brains are sold for predicting the results of lotteries and competitions.
Life cycle & biology
- Skeleton type
- Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (bird)
- Habitat & environment
- Montane rock faces of southern Africa, with savannah and grassland around them for feeding
- Sexual maturity
- 6 years
- Gestation / incubation
- 57 days of incubation
- Litter / clutch size
- 1 egg
Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyps_coprotheres
Where to find it
See its range on the interactive mapWhere to watch it
Parques y spots de buceo donde se ha documentado esta especie — se muestran 10 de 17 documentados.
Related species
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Cape Vulture — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Crowned Eagle
Stephanoaetus coronatus
EndangeredMartial Eagle
Polemaetus bellicosus
Bearded Vulture
Gypaetus barbatus
Lappet-faced Vulture
Torgos tracheliotos
Least ConcernVerreaux's Eagle
Aquila verreauxii
Critically EndangeredWhite-backed Vulture
Gyps africanus
How to help
The cape vulture is classified as vulnerable. Organizations such as UICN, WWF y Wildlife Conservation Society work specifically on its conservation and that of its habitat; looking into their programs is a good starting point if you want to get involved.
It's documented in 9 real protected areas — part of why protecting these places matters for its conservation.
Keep exploring
Based on what we already know about cape vulture.
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