Rüppell's Vultures are highly social, roosting, nesting, and gathering to feed in large flocks.

In contrast, thermal soaring birds, such as Rüppell's Vultures, tend to have much smaller wing loadings and aspect ratios.

Rüppell's vulture (Gyps rueppellii)

Rüppell's Vultures have several adaptations to their diet and are specialized feeders even among the Old World vultures of Africa.

Since first being assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 1988, populations of Rüppell's Vulture have declined.

Rüppell's Vultures are creatures of the more arid and mountainous areas of Africa: particularly semi-desert and the fringes of deserts.

BirdLife International (2007b): Rüppell's Vulture - BirdLife Species Factsheet.

Rüppell's Vulture or Rüppell's Griffon Vulture (Gyps rueppellii) is a large vulture that occurs throughout the Sahel region of central Africa.

The highest flying birds are Rüppell's Vultures, Bar-headed Geese, Whooper Swans and Bar-tailed Godwits, all of which have flown more than 8 km above sea level.

In August 2010 a Rüppell's Vulture escaped a bird of prey site in Scotland, prompting warnings to pilots in the area to keep an eye out due to the danger of collision.

Since 1992, Rüppell's Vulture has been occurring as a vagrant in Spain and Portugal, with annual records since 1997, mainly in the Cadiz / Straits of Gibraltar area, but also further north.

When thermal updrafts start to develop enough lift, about two hours after sunrise, Rüppell's Vultures leave the roost and begin to patrol over the plains, using their exceptionally keen eyesight to find large animal carcasses, or carnivores which have made a kill.

Other notable animals in London Zoo's collection include Asian lions, black vultures, greater flamingos, servals, pygmy hippopotamus, ring-tailed lemurs, Bactrian camels, red-faced spider monkeys, king vultures, Asian small-clawed otters, reindeer, giant anteaters, Rüppell's vultures, Bornean bearded pigs and great white pelicans.

Rüppell's vulture (Gyps rueppellii)