The Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is a large, globally endangered vulture that breeds in The Middle East, Arabia and eastern and southeastern parts of Africa. It typically feeds on the remains of rather larger animals, a habit facilitated by its large size (6-8 kg, wingspan 2+ meters) and huge beak. As with other vultures, they search for their food over huge areas, a task enabled by its ability to soar efficiently on updrafts of hot air produced in the mostly hot, arid area where they occur.
Lappet-faced vultures mature slowly, reaching adulthood after about six years. However, they can also live long (over 30 yrs). Before maturity Lappet-faced vultures probably wander widely, mostly in search of food. When they enter the breeding population their movement, which might still cover large areas, is anchored to the nesting location. Breeders build huge nests, often in flat-topped trees, like Acacia tortilis. They lay a single egg, but not in all years. Chicks remain in the nest for around 4 months, and when they leave they are as large as their parents. Chicks probably remain in contact with their parents for some months after making their first flight.
Lappet-faced vultures face a wide range of threats that vary geographically and include, changes in food availability, electrocution, persecution and accidental poisoning.
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In Oman Lappet-faced vultures are most common in the Hajar Mountains in the north, but they also breed in flatter areas of the central desert and in Dhofar. Their ecology in Oman is much as it is elsewhere. They range over huge areas (including probably UAE and Saudi), and feed on the carcasses of large animals (goats, camels, donkeys). They lay a single egg in a large nest (often in Acacia tortilis) in remote, and mostly rugged areas.
Omani Lappet-faced vultures are sometimes electrocuted, hit by cars, and persecuted. They are also facing changes in food availability because natural populations of larger animals (like gazelle) are declining, and changes are occurring in animal husbandry and waste management. Although historically they have been regularly seen, almost nothing was known about their status in Oman.
This blog is about Lappet-faced vultures in Oman. In 2020 the Environment Society of Oman (ESO) and International Avian Research won support from the Disney Conservation Fund to conduct research and promote conservation of this iconic and important species. Additional support has been given by the Anglo-Omani Society in a grant to F. Al Lamki. In subsequent posts we will be discussing that research and providing general information about Lappet-faced vultures, the habitats in which they live and the other animals that share their (and our) environment.
