White Backed Vulture Facts:
Scientific Name: Gyps Africanus
Length: Aprox 94 cm
Wing Span: Aprox 218 cm
Weight: 4150 – 7200 g
Class: Raptors (Accipitridae)
Food: (scavenger) Meat, cartilage, bone, skin and small animals
I have chosen the White Back Vulture as the feature for birds as they are very common in the area. These are Africa’s most common vultures. Being scavengers they are often found eating from or around predator kills, carcasses and other dead animals. Driving in to the park you are very like to come across this bird. They are in danger in the areas surrounding the parks due to human populations growing and threatening their habitats. The villagers also poison then to stop then eating their livestock, they also get indirectly poisoned from poisons put in carcasses targeting other predators. Power lines also pose a threat to the vultures. The Victoria Falls area have three institutes that feed the birds daily in an aim to keep them in and around the national park.
These vultures scan the surrounding wild areas for food by riding thermals (rising warm air) to heights of up to 10, 000 feet and have even been spotted higher. They have incredible eyes sight and can see food from those heights. Seeing a lot of vultures circling or in a tree around a specific location often is a tell tail sign there is a predator that has made a kill nearby, and guides will often use this sign to investigate. Baby Vultures are fed but both the male and female parent and will generally fledge and leave the nest at 4 – 5 months. Vultures can been seen in groups of up to 200 feeding on a carcass.
WARNING: This area is wild and dangerous, please do not leave the picnic area on foot unless with a qualified guide. When driving in the area do not get out of your vehicle (you are only allowed out of your vehicle at designated picnic sites). Be vigilant as the animals can get into the picnic sites if you see any get in your car.
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