Indian Vulture Facts
- This impressive product of Nature and ages of evolution most frequently goes by the informative common name of the Indian Vulture. It has no other accepted general name in english. But, it’s named Vautour indien in French, and Indiengeier in German, among others.
- Within the scientific community, however, it’s possibly much better known by its technical title. Thankfully for the layperson, that’s a much simpler term to pronounce than many such. That’s because this natural marvel holds the short scientific moniker of Gyps indicus.
- The remarkable avian received that relatively easy to pronounce name due to the efforts of the Italian naturalist, Giovanni Antonio Scopoli. The respected researcher accomplished the first recorded recognition of the intriguing animal. He achieved that noteworthy deed in 1786.
- Unfortunately, the bird has a population base that’s already seen a sharp decline in numbers. Estimates consider that loss to be at least 97% across the entirety of its known range. The IUCN thus accordingly lists it as Critically Endangered on the Red List of Threatened Species.
- The primary cause of that precipitous decline among the Indian Vulture seems to have been a drug given to cattle in its range. Upon feeding on the flesh of the injected cattle, that medicine, named diclofenac, entered their systems. For the birds, it constitutes a very powerful toxin.
- Given its precarious population situation, other factors now only serve to augment its perils. Most of these dangers stem from the actions of humans, either directly or indirectly. These many perils include such threats to its existence as habitat loss and ongoing climate change.
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Indian Vulture Physical Description
Like many of its relatives around the world, the Indian Vulture often has a bad reputation in the minds of many. Yet, objectively speaking, it remains a fascinating creation of Nature and evolution. It captures the attention of many who encounter it, due its characteristic physical appearance.
In that particular regard, however, it follows a natural pattern strongly prevalent among birds. That’s true since it displays a certain degree of the physiological characteristic called sexual dimorphism. In the case of this impressive species, that trait only manifests itself in terms of sheer size.
More specifically, females of the avian attain a greater average size than their male counterparts. The overall difference in this respect, though, remains relatively slight. To the untrained eye, therefore, distinguishing the two genders of this species based on this trait becomes extremely difficult.
As a general principle, however, specimens grow to an average body length of approximately 32 – 41 in (81 – 103 cm). An average wingspan, though, measures an impressive 6.4 – 7.8 ft (1.96 – 2.38 m). Exceptional individuals do occasionally occur, of course, wholly regardless of gender.
The body of the Indian Vulture is considered medium-sized among its numerous kindred. It does have a slightly bulkier form to it than many of those relatives, however. The neck and head also appear nearly bald. Its broad wings develop as tapered, while the tail feathers are relatively short.
Its upper layer of feathers, known as covert feathers, show a comparatively pale shade. The lower, primary feathers, on the other hand, display a significantly darker brownish-gray color. The bird also manifests a markedly pale shaded collar-like pattern that’s most highly visible behind the neck.
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Aves
- Order: Accipitriformes
- Family: Accipitridae
- Genus: Gyps
- Species: G. indicus
Indian Vulture Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology
The Indian Vulture evolved as indigenous to a moderately small portion of the surface of the globe. For the moment, no evidence exists that it ever appeared anywhere outside of its present general zone of habitation. The precise reason for that lack of expansion still remains undetermined.
As its name obviously implies, the creature appears inside the country of India, placed in the southern part of Asia. Even there, however, the intriguing avian only lives in the peninsular region. The species does exist, although in even smaller numbers, within the southeast section of Pakistan.
The wonder of Nature also displays decidedly strong and clear preferences regarding its habitat. In this, it also follows a pattern common to its many relatives. Most of the regions where it appears have a relatively hot, dry climate. It typically nests on rugged, remote cliffs or sometimes in trees.
Yet, it doesn’t always shy away from human inhabited areas, either. That’s because, within its native range, it sometimes makes its home in villages, towns, and sometimes even smaller cities. There, it occasionally builds its nest in man-made structures, including some temples found in the region.
Once again maintaining the pattern of behavior common to its kind, the Indian Vulture feeds as a scavenger. Its food primarily consists of carrion, of virtually any species. This the highly evolved creature searches for by quietly soaring high over the landscape, entirely regardless of location.
Breeding season most often takes place between the months of November to March. This generally occurs in larger colonies. Females typically lay a single egg, which both parents incubate. Hatching usually requires roughly 45 days. Individual examples sometimes live for up to 40 – 45 years.
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