The Lappet-faced Vulture is the largest and most dominant of the African vultures and it is hard to think of a more imposing bird. I have often seen a single adult dislodge dozens of griffon vultures from a carcass, spreading its wings and bounding forward in a menacing manner. With its massive, razor-edged bill, it slices through the hide of a dead antelope or zebra, to take its fill of flesh and open the way for other vulture species. Pairs occupy a vast home range of 50 square kilometres or more. As with all other vultures, this is now a threatened species, vulnerable to the reckless use of poisons by both commercial and subsistence farmers. There is also a large and seemingly growing market for vulture body parts, used in divination by so-called ‘witch-doctors’ or soothsayers.
Wingspan: 2.8 metres (9 feet) Length from bill to tail: 1 metre (3 feet, 2 inches) Weight: 6.5 kg (14 lbs)