Neophron percnopterus

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	FALCONIFORMES	ACCIPITRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Neophron percnopterus

Species Authority:

(Linnaeus, 1758)

Common Name/s:

English	–	Egyptian Eagle, Egyptian Vulture
French	–	Vautour percnoptère

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Endangered A2bcde+3bcde+4bcde ver 3.1

Year Published:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Burfield, I., Butchart, S., Pople, R.

Contributor/s:

Eriksen, J., Bukreev, S., Lanovenko, E., Atienza, J., Stoynov, E., Brunner, A., Grubac, B., Kovshar, A., Cortes, J., Koshkin, A., Kashkarov, R., Efimenko, N., Baral, H., Katzner, T., Kolbintzev, V., Mitropolskyi, O., Abdusalyamov, I., Belyalova, L., Monteiro, A., Thiollay, J., Mischenko, A., Mitropolskyi, M., Khrokov, V., Madroño, A., Subramanya, S., Barlow, C., Sklyarenko, S., Velevski, M., Barov, B., Bowden, C., Buketov, M., Cuthbert, R., Grande, J., Pomeroy, D., Camina, A., Soldatova, N., Petkov, N., Khan, A., Galushin, V., Porter, R., Bustamov, E., Hatzofe, O., Isfendiyaroglu, S., Fundukchiev, S., Keuzberg-Makhina, E., Simmons, R., Aspinall, S., Matekova, G., Mulholland, G., Wolstencroft, J.

Justification:
This long-lived species qualifies as Endangered owing to a recent and extremely rapid population decline in India (presumably resulting from poisoning by the veterinary drug Diclofenac) combined with severe long-term declines in Europe (>50% over the last three generations [42 years]) and West Africa, plus ongoing declines through much of the rest of its African range.

History:

2007	–	Endangered
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Neophron percnopterus occupies a large range with isolated resident populations in the Cape Verde and Canary Islands in the west, through Morocco and parts of West Africa. A small resident population persists in Angola and Namibia. The bulk of the resident population occurs in Ethiopia and East Africa, Arabia and the Indian Subcontinent. Migratory birds breed in southern Europe, from Spain in the west, through the Mediterranean, the Caucasus and central Asia to Pakistan, northern India and Nepal. These birds winter within the resident range, and in addition throughout the Sahel region of Africa. Global population estimates for the species are crude, but combining figures of 2,600-3,100 pairs in Europe¹⁸, <2,000 pairs in central Asia, just a few thousand pairs now in the Indian Subcontinent, perhaps 1,000 pairs in the Middle East, and perhaps <7,500 pairs in Africa gives a total of 30,000-40,000 mature individuals. The European population has declined by over 50% in the last three generations¹. In Spain, which with at least 1,300 pairs may support as much as 40% of the European breeding population, the number of territories declined by at least 25% between 1987-2000 (i.e. equating to a decline of >50% over three generations)⁶. Similar declines are reported from the Middle East², e.g. 50-75% in Israel, although in Oman the population is apparently stable³ and 1,000 birds are resident in a stable population on the island of Socotra⁴. The resident populations within Africa also appear to have declined, including those in Ethiopia and Djibouti¹⁰, and Angola and Namibia (where just 10 pairs remain)⁹. Across much of Africa residents are outnumbered by migrant European breeders¹¹. Most critically, the species has undergone a catastrophic decline (>35% per year) since 1999 in India, where numbers detected on road transects declined by 68% between 2000 and 2003⁷.
Countries:	Native: Afghanistan; Albania; Algeria; Andorra; Angola; Armenia; Azerbaijan; Benin; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Burkina Faso; Cameroon; Cape Verde; Central African Republic; Chad; China; Côte d'Ivoire; Croatia; Cyprus; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Ethiopia; France; Gambia; Georgia; Ghana; Gibraltar; Greece; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; India; Iran, Islamic Republic of; Iraq; Israel; Italy; Jordan; Kazakhstan; Kenya; Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Lebanon; Libyan Arab Jamahiriya; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Mali; Malta; Mauritania; Moldova; Montenegro; Morocco; Namibia; Nepal; Niger; Nigeria; Oman; Pakistan; Palestinian Territory, Occupied; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Saudi Arabia; Senegal; Serbia; Somalia; South Africa; Spain; Sudan; Syrian Arab Republic; Tajikistan; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Tunisia; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uganda; Ukraine; United Arab Emirates; Uzbekistan; Western Sahara; Yemen; Zimbabwe Vagrant: Austria; Bangladesh; Belgium; Botswana; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; Hungary; Lesotho; Mongolia; Mozambique; Myanmar; Norway; Poland; Qatar; Russian Federation; Slovakia; Slovenia; Sri Lanka; Svalbard and Jan Mayen; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	In Europe, the breeding population is estimated to number 3500-5600 breeding pairs, equating to 10500-16800 individuals (BirdLife International 2004). Europe forms 25-49% of the global range, so a very preliminary estimate of the global population size is 21400-67200 individuals, although further validation of this estimate is needed.
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	Typically nests on ledges or in caves on low cliffs⁸, crags and rocky outcrops, but occasionally also in large trees. Forages in lowland and montane regions over open, often arid, country. Also scavenges at human settlements. Broad diet including carrion, tortoises, organic waste, insects, young vertebrates, eggs and even faeces. Usually solitary, but will congregate at feeding sites, such as rubbish tips, and forms roosts of non-breeding adults. Performs an energetic display flight with mate. Several resident island populations show genetic isolation. Northern breeders conduct long-distance intercontinental migrations.
Systems:	Terrestrial; Freshwater

Habitat and Ecology:

Typically nests on ledges or in caves on low cliffs⁸, crags and rocky outcrops, but occasionally also in large trees. Forages in lowland and montane regions over open, often arid, country. Also scavenges at human settlements. Broad diet including carrion, tortoises, organic waste, insects, young vertebrates, eggs and even faeces. Usually solitary, but will congregate at feeding sites, such as rubbish tips, and forms roosts of non-breeding adults. Performs an energetic display flight with mate. Several resident island populations show genetic isolation. Northern breeders conduct long-distance intercontinental migrations.

Systems:

Terrestrial; Freshwater

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species faces a number of threats across its range. Declines in parts of Africa are likely to have been driven by loss of wild ungulate populations and, in some areas, overgrazing by livestock¹³. Disturbance, lead poisoning (from gun shot), direct poisoning, and electrocution (by powerlines) are currently impacting upon European populations^5,12,19. Within the European Union, regulations introduced in 2002, controlling the disposal of animal carcasses, greatly reduced food availability (notably through the closure of traditional "muladares" in Spain and Portugal)^6,14,15; however, recently passed regulations will permit the operation of feeding stations for scavengers²⁰. Antiobiotic residues present in the carcasses of intensively-farmed livestock may increase the susceptibility of nestlings to disease¹⁴. Avian pox has been reported as a cause of mortality in Bulgaria¹⁹. It appears that Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often used for livestock, and which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses¹⁶, is driving the recent rapid declines in India⁷. NSAIDs are reportedly toxic to raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that vultures of other genera could be susceptible to its effects¹⁶. It seems plausible that this species previously had less exposure to the toxin owing to competitive exclusion from carcasses by Gyps spp. vultures⁷. In 2007, Diclofenac was found to be on sale at a veterinary practice in Tanzania¹⁶. In addition, it was reported that in Tanzania, a Brazilian manufacturer has been aggressively marketing the drug for veterinary purposes¹⁷ and exporting it to 15 African countries¹⁶. In Morocco at least, the species is taken for use in traditional medicine. Competition for suitable nest sites with Griffon Vulture significantly reduces breeding success¹⁹.

Major Threat(s):

This species faces a number of threats across its range. Declines in parts of Africa are likely to have been driven by loss of wild ungulate populations and, in some areas, overgrazing by livestock¹³. Disturbance, lead poisoning (from gun shot), direct poisoning, and electrocution (by powerlines) are currently impacting upon European populations^5,12,19. Within the European Union, regulations introduced in 2002, controlling the disposal of animal carcasses, greatly reduced food availability (notably through the closure of traditional "muladares" in Spain and Portugal)^6,14,15; however, recently passed regulations will permit the operation of feeding stations for scavengers²⁰. Antiobiotic residues present in the carcasses of intensively-farmed livestock may increase the susceptibility of nestlings to disease¹⁴. Avian pox has been reported as a cause of mortality in Bulgaria¹⁹. It appears that Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) often used for livestock, and which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses¹⁶, is driving the recent rapid declines in India⁷. NSAIDs are reportedly toxic to raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that vultures of other genera could be susceptible to its effects¹⁶. It seems plausible that this species previously had less exposure to the toxin owing to competitive exclusion from carcasses by Gyps spp. vultures⁷. In 2007, Diclofenac was found to be on sale at a veterinary practice in Tanzania¹⁶. In addition, it was reported that in Tanzania, a Brazilian manufacturer has been aggressively marketing the drug for veterinary purposes¹⁷ and exporting it to 15 African countries¹⁶. In Morocco at least, the species is taken for use in traditional medicine. Competition for suitable nest sites with Griffon Vulture significantly reduces breeding success¹⁹.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway Occurs within a number of protected areas across its range. Monitoring programmes, supplementary feeding and campaigns against illegal use of poisons are in place for a number of national populations. The veterinary drug Diclofenac has now been banned by the Indian government. In 2007, a survey began to establish the extent of Diclofenac use for veterinary purposes in Tanzania¹⁶. Conservation Actions Proposed Protect nest sites where persecution is a problem. Research the causes of current declines across the species's range. Coordinate monitoring to assess trends throughout the range. Relax the European Union animal hygiene regulations in relation to necrophagous birds. Establish supplementary feeding sites where appropriate. Raise awareness amongst pastoralists in Africa of the dangers of using Diclofenac for livestock¹⁶. Effectively reduce risks of poisoning through strict enforcement of poison-bait ban and education. Lobby for the banning of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes throughout the species's range, and support the enforcement of this ban where it has been adopted. Where applicable, establish the impact of wind turbines, and lobby for effective impact assessments to be carried out prior to their construction. Where appropriate, reduce disturbance by guarding nests.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
Occurs within a number of protected areas across its range. Monitoring programmes, supplementary feeding and campaigns against illegal use of poisons are in place for a number of national populations. The veterinary drug Diclofenac has now been banned by the Indian government. In 2007, a survey began to establish the extent of Diclofenac use for veterinary purposes in Tanzania¹⁶.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Protect nest sites where persecution is a problem. Research the causes of current declines across the species's range. Coordinate monitoring to assess trends throughout the range. Relax the European Union animal hygiene regulations in relation to necrophagous birds. Establish supplementary feeding sites where appropriate. Raise awareness amongst pastoralists in Africa of the dangers of using Diclofenac for livestock¹⁶. Effectively reduce risks of poisoning through strict enforcement of poison-bait ban and education. Lobby for the banning of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes throughout the species's range, and support the enforcement of this ban where it has been adopted. Where applicable, establish the impact of wind turbines, and lobby for effective impact assessments to be carried out prior to their construction. Where appropriate, reduce disturbance by guarding nests.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Neophron percnopterus. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 24 May 2012.
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