POPULATION SIZE AOO EOO TREND
400 mat. ind. 249,924 km2
NORTH AFRICA REGIONAL ASSESSMENT: VULNERABLE (VU) C2a(ii) (IUCN version 3.1)
The North African population of the species is suspected to consist of around 400 mature individuals in one subpopulation. There is an observed ongoing decline of mature individuals due to the extirpation of breeding populations in Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. The species qualifies as Endangered according to criterion C2a(ii), but due to the increasing immigration of mature individuals from Europe and the fact that it may breed in Morocco in the near future, the species is adjusted down one category and listed as Vulnerable C2a(ii).
DISTRIBUTION
In North Africa, this species is uncommon and resident only in northern Algeria (MaghrebOrnitho, 2014c; Clark and Davies, 2018). It is in Sidi Reghis Forests at Oum El Bouaghi province (Rebbah et al., 2019), the Parc National du Djurdjura, Parc National Chrea, Massif de l'Ouarsenis in Tell Atlas, Massif des Aurès, Parc National Belezma, Gorges du Rhummel and Mt Souk Ahras Mountains (M. Saheb, A. Fellous-Djardini, H. Benmammar, pers. obs., 2020). It is also present in the Massif des Babors, and an individual has been observed in the Parc National du Tlemcen (H. Benmammar, pers. obs.). It has also been observed as a breeding species in the Parc Culturel de l’Atlas Saharien, at Mount Ksour (Fellous, 2017).
The griffon vulture has never bred in Libya. In Morocco, it used to breed in the east, the Middle Atlas, the Central Plateau, the High Atlas, the western Anti-Atlas and the Saharan Atlas (Bergier, 1987; Thévenot et al., 2003), but in the 21st century there has been no active breeding in the country (Garrido et al., 2005; Hajib, 2005; UICN and DEF, 2020). Similarly, it formerly bred in north-eastern and southern Tunisia (Isenmann et al., 2005), and it used
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to breed in eastern Egypt (Andevski, 2017), but more recent information confirms the species no longer breeds in the country (A. Riad, pers. obs.).
Immatures, mainly juveniles, migrate from Eurasia through Morocco, Algeria and Egypt to sub-Saharan Africa to win-ter, and some vultures seem to winter in the southern Moroccan Sahara and eastern Egypt (Clark and Davies, 2018).
POPULATION
The Algerian population was estimated at 126 breeding pairs in Kabylia and Constantinois by Benmammar (2012). More recent data show a wider distribution (North African Birds, 2015; Sahnoune, 2016; Bara and Khiter, 2017; Rebbah et al., 2019). The population in Algeria (and North Africa) can be conservatively estimated at around 200 breeding pairs or 400 mature individuals.
HABITATS AND ECOLOGY
Breeding adults are largely sedentary, but most juveniles are migratory or nomadic, overwintering in sub-Saharan Africa, but also in eastern Egypt (Botha et al., 2017; Clark and Davies, 2018). Migrating birds congregate in some specific locations, such as Gibraltar and Suez (Botha et al., 2017). The species relies heavily on soaring flight, and has been shown to fly at altitudes of 10,000 m and higher, and it needs thermals because it prefers gliding and soaring over active flight, to save energy (in Botha et al., 2017). The species roosts and nests on large cliffs and soars over surrounding open countryside from mountains to semi-deserts in search of food, occurring from sea level up to 2,500 m (Botha et al., 2017).
The nest is usually built on a rocky outcrop, with sheltered ledges or small caves preferred (del Hoyo et al., 1994).
It is a thin, fairly small platform of branches, sometimes stolen from other large raptors. A single egg is laid (Orta et al., 2020e). It feeds almost exclusively on carcasses of medium-sized and large domestic and wild animals, often in large numbers, although there are a few records in Spain of birds approaching live but injured or weak sheep or cattle (Botha et al., 2017). Rubbish dumps can be good feeding sites, but they may also have detrimen-tal effects through the consumption of inappropriately disposed of poisoned animals and the impact of human infrastructure nearby (JMM and Associates, 2015).
THREATS
The griffon vulture was extirpated in Morocco in the 20th century because, through their scavenging habits, individ-uals became unintended victims of poisoning for predator control by farmers (Garrido et al., 2014; Andevski, 2017;
Botha et al., 2017). In Morocco, such poisoning was even conducted by the government until the end of the 20th century (Garrido et al., 2014; F. Cuzin, pers. obs.). Internationally banned organochlorine pesticides are still locally available and kill wildlife and pollute the environment (Garrido et al., 2014), and poisoning is still considered a threat (Moroccan Strategy for Conservation of
Birds of Prey Workshop, 2020, Rabat).
However, poisoning does not seem to be a problem in Algeria.
The griffon vulture is susceptible to mor-tality due to collisions with and electro-cution on power lines (Andevski, 2017;
Botha et al., 2017; Moroccan Strategy for Conservation of Birds of Prey Workshop, 2020, Rabat), though it had disappeared from Morocco before the large-scale electrification of rural areas began. Nev-ertheless, this may become a significant
Gyps fulvus Map created 17/2/2021
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply any official endorsement, acceptance or opinion by IUCN.
North Africa Raptor Red List
The boundaries and names shown and the designations used on this map do not imply any official endorsement, acceptance or opinion by IUCN.
North Africa Raptor Red List Extant (resident) Extant (non-breeding) Extant (passage)
Distribution range of the Griffon vulture, Gyps fulvus (Hablizl, 1783) in North Africa. Source: The IUCN Red List of the breeding birds of prey of North Africa.
threat to resident and migrant populations if the power line network increases within its range, and griffon vulture deaths on power lines have been reported in south-eastern Morocco near Missour (UICN and DEF, 2020). The species is also highly vulnerable to the effects of wind energy developments (STRIX, 2012; Andevski, 2017), so the increasing number of massive wind energy projects in northern Morocco could be a huge threat to migrants crossing the Strait of Gibraltar (Moroccan Strategy for Conservation of Birds of Prey Workshop, 2020, Rabat).
Also in Morocco, every year dozens of migrant vultures are found drowned in artificial ponds where they go to drink or bathe during the summer months (R. El Khamlichi, pers. comm.).
Additionally, although livestock is very abundant, local traditions such as burying domestic ungulate carcasses decrease food availability for scavengers, especially in Morocco (Garrido et al., 2014; Allaoui and Cherckaoui, 2018); in Algeria carcasses should also be buried, but they normally are not (A. Fellous-Djardini, M. Saheb, pers.
obs.). There is also a widespread problem across North Africa of poaching to supply the illegal trade in raptors and raptor body parts (Emile et al., 2014; Brochet et al., 2016), which is known to impact the griffon vulture (Gar-rido et al., 2014; Andevski, 2017; Botha et al., 2017; MaghrebOrnitho, 2020; A. Fellous-Djardini, M. Saheb, pers.
obs., Moroccan Strategy for Conservation of Birds of Prey Workshop, 2020, Rabat). In Tunisia the major causes of extinction are not known, but the last small population was exploited in the past for European collections.
CONSERVATION
Conservation actions in place: CMS Appendix II. CITES Appendix II. It is included in a multi-species action plan for African–Eurasian vultures (Botha et al., 2017). In Morocco, the species is included in the preparation of a raptor conservation strategy (https://www.iucn.org/news/mediterranean/202001/first-steps-towards-a-moroc-can-strategy-raptor-conservation-iucns-guidance) and in a national population monitoring programme (UICN and DEF, 2020). An initiative to identify and correct dangerous power lines has also started in Morocco with the collaboration of governmental bodies and NGOs (Godino et al., 2016; Martín Martín et al., 2019). There are some initiatives to rescue and release sick and injured wild individuals, and to tag them (including attaching GPS loggers) in Morocco (AMFCR, 2018). In northern Morocco a vulture restaurant and a rehabilitation centre have been set up, whose work includes capturing and marking individuals with wing tags and GPS loggers (R.
El Khamlichi, pers. comm.).
Conservation actions needed: There is only a single small breeding population in Algeria, so it is important to try to restore the breeding population in the species’ former range. Effective protection in areas with a plentiful supply of food (which often includes the carcasses of domestic animals), has been shown to result in impressive population recoveries in other areas, and reintroduction has been successful in parts of its range (del Hoyo et al., 1994); such measures could be implemented in Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt if threats are controlled. The provision of feeding stations is also beneficial, particularly when food is scarce. The ban on poisoned carcasses should be enforced and the leaving of dead animals encouraged. The griffon vulture population should be sur-veyed to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key dispersal areas. The construction of wind farms in key areas for the species should be avoided, and where they have already been built staff should be trained in bird monitoring. Artificial ponds in breeding, migratory and wintering areas should be adapted to prevent vultures drowning while drinking or bathing. Finally, and more broadly, awareness of biodiversity conser-vation needs to be increased amongst local people.
Assessor(s): Garrido López, J.R., Benmammar Hasnaoui, H., Fellous-Djardini, A., Cuzin, F., Essetti, I., Noaman, M., Onrubia, A., Radi, M., Riad, A. & Saheb, M.
Reviewer(s): Numa, C. & Barrios, V.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., BirdLife International & El Khamlichi, R.
Date: 2020–09–08
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