POPULATION SIZE AOO EOO TREND
20 mature individuals - 2,386 km2 ?
NORTH AFRICA REGIONAL ASSESSMENT: CRITICALLY ENDANGERED (CR) D (IUCN version 3.1) This species appears to have been colonising the North African region in the last 10 years. The population size in Algeria is estimated at 20 mature individuals. It occurs in an area occupied by a close relative, the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), but at the moment there are no records of hybridisation between the two species in the area. The species could be listed as Not Applicable in North Africa, but given that it is listed globally as Critically Endangered and its expansion to Algeria could be the beginning of a colonisation process caused by global climate change or habitat degradation in its breeding range in the southern Sahel, the species is listed here as Critically Endangered under criterion D. Further research should be conducted to ascertain its actual breeding numbers and population trend and the importance of the North African population for the global conservation of the species.
DISTRIBUTION
In North Africa it used to be considered a casual visitor or vagrant in Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt (Good-man and Meininger, 1989; Clark and Davies, 2018). However, in the last 15 years, the species has been recorded far away from its breeding colonies, and has reached the Iberian Peninsula via Morocco and the Strait of Gibral-tar with migrating Gyps fulvus (Botha et al., 2017). Ramírez et al. (2011) suggested that these movements could represent a range expansion, with the species becoming established as a breeding species in Europe, where there are records of adult Rüppell’s vultures in breeding colonies of griffon vultures in the Iberian Peninsula and exhibiting breeding behaviour. Recently, Rüppell´s vultures have been sighted showing breeding behaviour in grif-fon vulture colonies in Andalusia, southern Spain (Elgorriaga et al., 2020), where the species is now considered
© Daniel Burón
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resident (CAGPDS, 2019). In this context, the species has been sighted frequently in Morocco, especially near the Strait of Gibraltar during migration (El Khamlichi, 2016), where about 50 individuals were observed during the spring migration in 2020 (R. El Khamlichi, pers. comm.). It has also been seen in the Sahara (Díaz-Portero et al., 2014; Bergier et al., 2017). In line with these data, Ramírez (2012) suggests that the species should not be considered a casual visitor or vagrant but to have regular non-breeding populations in both Morocco and Spain.
Immatures also migrate with griffon vultures through Morocco and Algeria (Botha et al., 2017).
Rüppell’s vultures may also be breeding in G. fulvus colonies in Algeria now. Although the species was consid-ered extinct in Algeria by Botha et al. (2017), J. M. Thiollay (in litt., 2016, per BirdLife International, 2020b) indicates that there are some very small breeding populations in the country. Moreover, according to Si Bachir and Abder-rahmani Said, in 2012, two juveniles captured from the nest in the Aurès Mountains (near Babar) were given to the Belezma National Park. One of them died and the other is still in the park. Since 2014 park staff have confirmed the presence of adult Rüppell's vultures in the area and local shepherds say that the species has been seen there for some years (M. Saheb, pers. obs.).
POPULATION
There are no population estimates for the species. The number of breeding individuals is likely to be extremely small, with probably fewer than 10 breeding pairs in north-eastern Algeria (M. Saheb, pers. obs.). Appropriate monitoring is necessary to accurately determine its population size.
HABITATS AND ECOLOGY
This species frequents open areas of woodland, grasslands and montane regions, and it is gregarious, congregat-ing at carrion, soarcongregat-ing together in flocks and breedcongregat-ing mainly in colonies on cliff faces and escarpments at a broad range of elevations, and sometimes in trees far from cliffs in West Africa. It locates food entirely by sight, subsisting almost entirely on carrion (Clark and Davies, 2018). It follows other vultures and migrant game or stock herds to locate much of its food (Del Hoyo et al., 1994). The species is considered an irruptive and local migrant by Bildstein (2006).
Movements across the Strait of Gibraltar to Europe are in the company of migrant griffon vultures (Botha et al., 2017).
THREATS
The species faces similar threats to griffon vultures, due to similar habitats, behaviour and potential breeding distribution. It is almost entirely dependent on livestock carcasses due to the almost complete absence of wild ungulates (Ferguson-Lees and Christie, 2001; Abdelguerfi and Ramdane, 2003; Garrido et al., 2014; Orta et al., 2020b; Andevski, 2017). Therefore, its scavenging behaviour makes it vulnerable to farmers that use poisons for predator control in Morocco, but poisoning does not seem to be a problem in Algeria. It is sensitive to mor-tality due to collision and electrocution on
power lines, as has been found in southern Spain (I. Fajardo, pers. comm.), and at least one electrocuted vulture has been found in Morocco (Monchaux, 2018). It may be highly vulnerable to the effects of potential wind energy developments (six Rüppell's vultures died because of that in Spain; I.
Fajardo, pers. comm.), so the increasing number of massive wind energy projects in north Morocco could be a significant threat to the population migrating across the Strait of Gibraltar.
© IUCN
Distribution range of the Rüppell's vulture, Rüppell's vulture - (Brehm, 1852) in North Africa. Source: The IUCN Red List of the breeding birds of prey of North Africa.
The entire North African region faces the problem of poaching to supply the illegal trade in raptors (Emile et al., 2014; Brochet et al., 2016; Andevski, 2017; Botha et al., 2017), which also specifically affects Rüppell's vulture at least locally in Morocco (MaghrebOrnitho, 2014). Additionally, in Morocco, Rüppell's vultures have been found drowned in artificial ponds where they go to drink or bathe during the summer months (R. El Khamlichi, pers.
obs., 2020). Lastly, this small, isolated population could experience a reduction in genetic diversity in the long term because of inbreeding and also hybridisation with griffon vultures. Interbreeding behaviour has been ob-served in Spain (Ramírez et al., 2011) and could influence breeding success and the long-term survival of such populations unless they are carefully managed.
CONSERVATION
Conservation actions in place: CMS Appendix II. CITES Appendix II. Bern Convention Appendix II. There is a Multi-species Action Plan for the conservation of African–Eurasian vultures (Botha et al., 2017). In Morocco, the species is included 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 also initiatives to rescue and release sick and injured wild individuals and to tag eagles (including attaching GPS loggers) in Morocco (MaghrebOrnitho, 2018b). In northern Morocco a feeding station and a rehabilitation centre have been set up, where individuals are captured and marked with wing tags and GPS loggers (R. El Khamlichi, pers. comm., 2019).
Conservation actions needed: There is only a small breeding population in Algeria, so it is important to try to conserve it because of the species’ global Red List status (see BirdLife International, 2020b). Effective protection of breeding sites and areas with a plentiful supply of food (which often includes carcasses of domestic animals) is therefore necessary. 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 construction of wind farms in key areas for the species should be avoided, and where they are already built, wind farm staff should be trained in bird monitoring. In addition, the population should be surveyed to determine, protect and manage potential breeding sites and key dispersal areas. Finally, and more broadly, awareness of biodiversity conservation should be increased.
Assessor(s): Garrido López, J.R., Saheb, M., Fellous-Djardini, A., Cuzin, F., Radi, M., Essetti, I., Onrubia, A. &
Noaman, M.
Reviewer(s): Botha, A. & Fajardo, I.
Contributor(s): Gyenge, P., BirdLife International, Thiollay, J.-M., Said, A., Si Bachir, A., El Khamlichi, R. & Fajardo, I.
Date: 2020–09–08
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