Quick answer
Vultures (Gyps fulvus) are listed in our guides as Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Key takeaway
Vultures (Gyps fulvus) are listed in our guides as Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
Vulture conservation status
Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is recorded here as Endangered. Global categories summarise extinction risk; regional populations can be safer or worse than the headline label.
Threats facing vultures
Habitat loss around Mountains, plains, and open country, hunting or persecution, climate pressure, and conflict with people are common drivers. Exact ranking of threats varies by region.
Outlook for Vulture populations
Where monitoring exists, trends track protected-area quality and enforcement. Fragmented groups need corridors and genetic exchange to avoid local extinction.
What actually helps
Support verified conservation programmes, cut demand for illegal wildlife products, and protect habitat. Tourism helps only when operators follow ethical wildlife standards.
Nature's sanitation service
By quickly consuming dead animals, vultures stop the spread of diseases such as rabies and anthrax and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem. Where vultures have vanished, rotting carcasses and booming populations of feral dogs and rats have followed, harming public health.
A conservation crisis
Several vulture species have suffered some of the steepest declines of any birds. In South Asia, the veterinary drug diclofenac in livestock carcasses poisoned vultures and crashed their numbers, and poisoning remains a major threat in Africa. Many species are now Endangered or Critically Endangered.
Sources
Vulture FAQs
Are vultures endangered?
Vultures (Gyps fulvus) are listed in our guides as Endangered. That IUCN-style label describes global extinction risk and can differ from national lists — habitat loss and human pressure still decide local survival.
What is the scientific name of the vulture?
Gyps fulvus — used in research and conservation listings for vultures.
What do vultures eat?
Vultures eat carrion, with seasonal and regional variation in Mountains, plains, and open country.
Where do vultures live?
They are associated with Mountains, plains, and open country. Local presence depends on food, cover, and human land use.
What is the conservation status of vultures?
Listed in our guides as Endangered. Check the IUCN Red List and national assessments for the latest formal category.