Bird

White-backed Vulture

Gyps africanus

Also known as African White-Backed Vulture, African White-Backed Griffon

White-backed vultures are medium-sized scavengers that spend hours soaring effortlessly on thermal updrafts while scanning open savannas for animal carcasses. Upon spotting a meal or observing down-flying competitors, dozens of individuals rapidly gather in noisy squabbling frenzies to strip a large mammal down to bone within minutes. Tragic population collapses driven by accidental poisonings and the illegal trade in wildlife parts have placed this once-abundant bird in severe peril across Sub-Saharan Africa.

ScavengerRaptorSoaring

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Yathin sk / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa

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Critically EndangeredConservation status

Key facts

Diet & preyMammal Carrion, Ungulate Remains, Offal

Predators

Lions
Lappet-faced Vultures
Large Eagles

ThreatsPoisoning, habitat loss, power line collisions, and illegal trade

HabitatsSavannas, open woodlands, grasslands, and semi-arid plains

Life span19–30 years

Classification

OrderAccipitriformes
FamilyAccipitridae
GenusGyps
SpeciesGyps africanus

Range & activity

Range data is not available yet.

Safe observation

Interaction riskLow

Low
Moderate
High
Very high

Why interaction risk is low: Safe to observe from a respectful distance; avoid disturbing nesting sites.
What to notice: Look for a pale brownish body, bare dark grey head and neck, and a distinct white patch on the lower back in adults.
Support conservation: Observe from a distance using optics, keep vehicle noise low, and never approach active tree nests.

Responsible observation

Binocular Viewing: Scan thermal updrafts above savanna landscapes with binoculars or a spotting scope.
Maintain Distance: Stay inside safari vehicles when watching birds gathered at a carcass to avoid flushing them.
Report Tagged Birds: Record and report wing tag numbers to local conservation groups to assist population tracking.