The Bearded Vulture, commonly known as the Lammergeier

lammergeier, (German: “lamb vulture”) (Gypaetus barbatus), lammergeier also spelled lammergeyer or lammergeir, also called bearded vulture

The Bearded Vulture, commonly known as the Lammergeier, is a resident of the Drakensberg region of South Africa. It is an endangered species and the largest of the African vultures – easily distinguishable by its black feathers and distinctive yellow head.

An isolated population inhabits the Drakensberg of South Africa

Bearded vultures occur in mountainous regions in the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Arabian Peninsula, the Caucasus region, the Zagros Mountains, the Alborz, the Koh-i-Baba in Bamyan, Afghanistan, the Altai Mountains, the Himalayas, Ladakh in northern India, western and central China. In Africa, they are found in the Atlas Mountains, the Ethiopian Highlands, and south from Sudan to northeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, central Kenya, and northern Tanzania. An isolated population inhabits the Drakensberg of South Africa. Bearded vultures are associated with mountains and inselbergs with plentiful cliffs, crags, precipices, canyons, and gorges. They are often found near alpine pastures and meadows, montane grassland and heath, steep-sided, rocky wadis, high steppe and are occasional around forests. In Ethiopia, these birds are now common on the outskirts of small villages and towns.

Flying great heights

The Bearded Vulture tends to nest at high elevations, usually over 2,000 metres above sea level. The nesting areas are usually very barren, allowing the vultures to have space to become accustomed to their environment. There have even been sightings of the vultures flying at heights of over 6,000 metres.

Tourists travelling the Sani Pass can be lucky on a sunny day to spot this rare raptor, thermalling high above the mountains in flocks of four to six majestic creatures.

The actual pass is only a seven-kilometre section between the two nations’ border-control points, characterised by dramatic switch-backs on its very steepest section. It lies within the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park which has been recognized as a UNESCO Cultural and Natural World Heritage Site.

Lovers of bone rather than meat

Bearded vultures are scavengers, feeding mostly on the remains of dead animals including mammals, birds, and reptiles. They usually disdain the actual meat and eat only bone marrow. During the breeding season, however, they feed mainly on carrion.

The Bearded Vultures form strong pair bonds that last for many years.

Threatened species

According to the IUCN Red List, the total population size of the Bearded vulture is 2,000-10,000 individuals, roughly equating to 1,300-6,700 mature individuals. In Europe, the population of this species consists of 580-790 pairs, which equates to 1,200-1,600 mature individuals. Currently, the Bearded vulture is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List and its numbers today are decreasing.

In conclusion, the Bearded Vulture is an important resident of the Drakensberg region and is an integral part of the ecosystem. Despite many conservation efforts, it is still in decline and its future remains uncertain. Awareness must be raised and the public must take more action in helping to protect the species and its natural habitat.