20 ~Black-headed Vulture~

More about 20 ~Black-headed Vulture~

**Black-headed Vulture / Oriental White-backed (critically imperiled vulture species) - South Asia/Africa regions

Vultures (threatened species group; e.g., Indian Gyps vultures)

Status: Many vulture species are Critically Endangered (regional collapses noted).

Range/Countries: Africa & Asia (species-specific).

Habitat: Diverse - savanna, open woodland, semi-desert, farmland.

Diet: Obligate scavengers - carrion.

Lifespan: ~10-30 years depending on species.

Reproduction: Low reproductive rates; long parental care.

Ecological role: Rapid carcass removal, limiting disease spread, nutrient cycling.

Main threats: Poisoning (veterinary drug residues like diclofenac in Asia), poisoning events, habitat loss, food scarcity.

Conservation notes: Banning harmful veterinary drugs, vulture restaurants (safe carcass provisioning), and captive-breeding programs are important.

[Vultures, often unsung, are essential scavengers that prevent disease spread - hundreds of millions have died in Asia after toxic veterinary drug exposures. Depicting a vulture can be a conservation education tool about veterinary policy and carcass management.]