Animals Birds

Lappet-faced Vulture

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Torgos tracheliotus

PROFILE:

Unlike some scavengers, lappet-faced vultures do not have a good sense of smell. Lucky for them, since they eat carrion, or dead animals. To find a meal, they rely on their sight, watching for other scavengers that have already found a meal.

TYPE OF ANIMAL:

bird, falconiformes (diurnal birds of prey)

NATIVE TO:

Africa and the Middle East

IUCN CONSERVATION STATUS:

vulnerable

DIET:

carnivore (primarily scavenger)

LIFESPAN:

average of 20-50 years

SOCIAL STATUS:

solitary or pairs