CAPE VULTURE
Gyps coprotheres
iNqe (Zulu) Kransaasvoel (Afrikaans)
HABITAT
The Drakensberg Mountains in KwaZulu-Natal and the Midlands areas where ther are islebergs
and escarpments. TYPE
This is a large vulture with a pale whitish to buff body and contrasting blackish wings and
tail. The back is mottled with broad streaks and there are bare blue patches on either side of the
crop. The eyes are pale straw coloured, the bill black, the bare face is blueish and the legs and
feet are greyish black.
BREEDING
They nest between April and July in colonies on precipitous cliffs building a sparse platform
of sticks, brush and stems, lining the bowl with grass and leaves. Usually one white egg is laid.
FOOD
The food consists of carrion and bone fragments. The tongue has groves and serrations which
allow the rapid ingestion of soft flesh. They become quite aggressive at carcasses.
STATUS
Rated as Vulnerable by the Red Data Book, they are locally common but declining due to the
poisoning of carcasses, the lack of game and stock carcasses and low breeding success due to
weakened egg shells because of a lack of bone fragments to provide the necessary calcium.
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