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African

White-Backed

Vulture

Gyps africanus

Size:

Voice:

Diet/Feeding: Unlike many other species of vultures who will supplement their diet with ripe fruits and vegetables, the White-Backed is a strict meat-eater. It finds its food with its keen eyesight, by soaring high above the prairie. Often, this bird will also observe other vultures, such as the Hooded vulture, whose descent almost unfailingly signals the location of a fresh carcass.

Flight:

Range/Habitat:

Behavior: The African White-Backed vulture is a gregarious bird, and feeds in large groups. Often 100 or more of these birds can be seen on a single carcass. One of the most audacious vultures in its area, the White-Backed frequently ventures into towns and markets, searching for abandoned food.

Life Cycle:

Breeding:

Status: Because much of their habitat is being developed and inhabited by humans, local game animals are finding themselves pushed into confined parks and protected areas. This has significantly lessened the vultures' once-abundant food supply, and is taking its toll on their populations as a result.

Folklore, Misc. Information: The Shona tribe of southern Rhodesia uses the heart of the White-Backed vulture in a ritual for predicting the future. A diviner grinds the heart of the vulture along with special plants, and, with divining bones, predicts future events over the concoction. Why the vulture? The Shonas recognize the incredible ability of this bird to find its way to fresh food almost anywhere, and believe that they can do this because of an ability to visit the future. They believe that the heart of the White-Backed vulture will allow them to foresee the future as well.

An African White-Backed Vulture in many languages:



		African White-Backed Vulture Gyps africanus

	Size: Voice: Diet/Feeding: Unlike many other species of vultures who will supplement their diet with ripe fruits and vegetables, the White-Backed is a strict meat-eater. It finds its food with its keen eyesight, by soaring high above the prairie. Often, this bird will also observe other vultures, such as the Hooded vulture, whose descent almost unfailingly signals the location of a fresh carcass. Flight: Range/Habitat: Behavior: The African White-Backed vulture is a gregarious bird, and feeds in large groups. Often 100 or more of these birds can be seen on a single carcass. One of the most audacious vultures in its area, the White-Backed frequently ventures into towns and markets, searching for abandoned food. Life Cycle: Breeding: Status: Because much of their habitat is being developed and inhabited by humans, local game animals are finding themselves pushed into confined parks and protected areas. This has significantly lessened the vultures' once-abundant food supply, and is taking its toll on their populations as a result. Folklore, Misc. Information: The Shona tribe of southern Rhodesia uses the heart of the White-Backed vulture in a ritual for predicting the future. A diviner grinds the heart of the vulture along with special plants, and, with divining bones, predicts future events over the concoction. Why the vulture? The Shonas recognize the incredible ability of this bird to find its way to fresh food almost anywhere, and believe that they can do this because of an ability to visit the future. They believe that the heart of the White-Backed vulture will allow them to foresee the future as well. An African White-Backed Vulture in many languages: