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White-rumped Vulture Gyps bengalensis
IUCN Red List Criteria
| Critically Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| Endangered | A2bce+4bce |
| Vulnerable | A2bce+4bce;C2a(ii) |
IUCN Red List history
| Year | Category |
|---|---|
| 2012 | Critically Endangered |
| 2010 | Critically Endangered |
| 2009 | Critically Endangered |
| 2008 | Critically Endangered |
| 2004 | Critically Endangered |
| 2000 | Critically Endangered |
| 1994 | Lower Risk/Near Threatened |
| 1988 | Lower Risk/Least Concern |
Species attributes
| Migratory status | not a migrant | Forest dependency | Low |
| Land mass type | continent |
Average mass | 4385 g |
Distribution
| Estimate | Data quality | |
|---|---|---|
| Extent of Occurrence breeding/resident (km2) | 4,920,000 | medium |
| Extent of Occurrence non-breeding (km2) | 4,760,000 | medium |
| Number of locations | 11-100 | - |
| Fragmentation | - |
Population & trend
| Estimate | Data quality | Derivation | Year of estimate | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. of mature individuals | 2500-9999 | poor | Estimated | 2007 |
| Population trend | Decreasing | good | - | |
| Number of subpopulations | 2-100 | - | - | - |
| Largest subpopulation | 1001-10000 | - | - | - |
| Generation length (yrs) | 16 | - | - | - |
| Population justification: Formerly described as possibly the most abundant large bird of prey in the world, this species global population almost certainly numbered several million individuals. However, following dramatic declines through the 1990's across its range its global population is now estimated to fall within the band 2,500-9,999 mature individuals. This equates to 3,750-14,999 individuals, rounded here to 3,500-15,000 individuals. | ||||
| Trend justification: The species declined in South-East Asia during the 20th century, apparently as a result of the collapse of large ungulate populations owing to over-harvesting by human hunters. Declines in the major part of the population throughout the Indian Subcontinent probably began in the 1990s and were very rapid, resulting in an overall population decline of greater than 99% over a 10-15 year period. | ||||
Country/Territory distribution
| Country/Territory | Occurrence status | Extinct | Breeding | Non-breeding | Passage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Native | No | |||
| Bangladesh | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| Bhutan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Brunei | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Cambodia | Native | No | Yes | ||
| China (mainland) | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| India | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Iran, Islamic Republic of | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Laos | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Malaysia | Native | Yes | Yes | ||
| Myanmar | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Nepal | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Pakistan | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Russia (European) | Vagrant | No | Yes | ||
| Thailand | Native | No | Yes | ||
| Vietnam | Native | No | Yes |
Important Bird Areas where this species has triggered the IBA criteria
| Country/Territory | IBA Name | IBA link |
|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | Jamuna-Brahmaputra river |  |
| Bangladesh | Lawachara / West Bhanugach Reserved Forest | |
| Bhutan | Royal Manas National Park | |
| Cambodia | Chhep | |
| Cambodia | Lomphat | |
| Cambodia | Mekong River from Kratie to Laos | |
| Cambodia | Mondulkiri / Kratie Lowlands | |
| Cambodia | Sekong River | |
| Cambodia | Sesan River | |
| Cambodia | Upper Srepok Catchment | |
| Cambodia | Western Siem Pang | |
| China (mainland) | Xishuangbanna | |
| India | Amarambalam Reserved Forest - Nilambur | |
| India | Amchang Hills | |
| India | Asan Barrage | |
| India | Bagdarrah Closed Area | |
| India | Balpakram Complex | |
| India | Bandhavgarh National Park | |
| India | Bandipur National Park | |
| India | Bannerghataa National Park | |
| India | Banni Grassland and Chhari Dhand | |
| India | Bardha Dam | |
| India | Barnawapara Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Basai wetlands | |
| India | Bauwwa Beel | |
| India | Bherjan - Borajan - Podumoni Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Bhimgad Forests | |
| India | Bhindawas Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park | |
| India | Biligiri Rangaswamy Temple Wildlife Sanctuary and Hills | |
| India | Bordoibam - Bilmukh Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Bordoloni - Sampora | |
| India | Bori Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Bramhagiri Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Buxa Tiger Reserve (National Park) | |
| India | Cauvery Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Chail Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Chakrashila Complex | |
| India | Chandaka - Dampara Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Charakla Salt Works | |
| India | Corbett Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary and Godavari estuary | |
| India | Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Dachigam National Park | |
| India | Dandeli Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Desert National Park | |
| India | Dhansiri Reserve Forest | |
| India | Dhauludhar Wildlife Sanctuary and McLeod Gunj | |
| India | Dibang Reserve Forest and adjacent areas | |
| India | Dibru - Saikhowa Complex | |
| India | Dihaila Jheel and other wetlands | |
| India | Dipor Beel Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Diyatra Closed Area | |
| India | Dudhwa National Park | |
| India | Dum Duma-Dangori - Kumsong Reserve Forests | |
| India | East and North Karbi Anglong Wildlife Sanctuaries | |
| India | Fambong Lho Wildlife Sanctuary - Himalayan Zoological Park - Ratey Chu Reserve Forest | |
| India | Farakka Barrage and adjoining area | |
| India | Gangapur Dam and grasslands | |
| India | Gibbon (Hollongapar) Sanctuary | |
| India | Gir National Park and Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Gobind Sagar and Naina Devi Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Gorumara National Park | |
| India | Gudavi Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Halali Reservoir | |
| India | Harike Lake Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Hazaribagh Wildlife Sanctuary and North Karanpur Valley | |
| India | Horsely Hills | |
| India | Indravati National Park and Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Inner Line, Kathakal and Barak Reserve Forests | |
| India | Jaikwadi Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Jaisamand Lake and Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Jamjing and Sengajan | |
| India | Jhanjimukh - Kokilamukh | |
| India | Jogimatti State Forest | |
| India | Kalesar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Kanha National Park | |
| India | Kawar or Kabar Lake Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Kaziranga National Park | |
| India | Kemmangundi and Bababudan Hills | |
| India | Keoladeo National Park and Ajan Bande | |
| India | Khichan | |
| India | Kokkare Bellur | |
| India | Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Krishnarajasagar Reservoir | |
| India | Kuarbari_Dalani | |
| India | Kulik (Raiganj) Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Kunthur - Kallur Lakes | |
| India | Laokhowa and Burhachapori Sanctuaries | |
| India | Lingambudhi Lake and environs | |
| India | Lowland forests of South Sikkim (Melli-Baguwa-Kitam, Jorethang-Namchi, Sombarey) | |
| India | Lumding - Marat Longri | |
| India | Madhav National Park | |
| India | Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Mahul - Sewree Creek | |
| India | Majathal Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Majuli | |
| India | Manas National Park | |
| India | Melghat Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Melkote Temple Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Mokama Taal (Barah) Wetlands | |
| India | Mount Abu Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Mudumalai National Park | |
| India | Nagarhole National Park | |
| India | Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Rajeev National Park (Tiger Reserve) | |
| India | Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Nandi Hills | |
| India | Nandur Madhmeshwar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Narasambudhi Lake | |
| India | Narora | |
| India | National Chambal Wildlife Sanctuary (Bundi/Kota) (part of National Chambal River Gharial Sanctuary AZE) | |
| India | Navegaon National Park | |
| India | Naya Bandh Wetland Complex | |
| India | Nokrek National Park | |
| India | Nongkhyllem Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Okhla Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Orang National Park | |
| India | Pabho Reserve Forest | |
| India | Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Palamau Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Pani-Dihing Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Panna National Park | |
| India | Patna Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Pench Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Phulwari Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Pong Dam Lake Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Pulicat Lake Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Rajaji National Park | |
| India | Ramanagara Reserve Forest | |
| India | Ramnagar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Rampura Grassland | |
| India | Ramsagar Lake | |
| India | Ranebennur Blackbuck Sanctuary | |
| India | Rangananthittu Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Ranthambore National Park and Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Ripu and Chirang Reserve Forest | |
| India | Sailana Kharmor Sanctuary | |
| India | Sajjangarh Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Sambhar Lake | |
| India | Sanjay Gandhi National Park | |
| India | Sarah Valley, Lower Dharamshala | |
| India | Sareri Bandh | |
| India | Sariska Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Satkosia Gorge Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Sei Dam reservoir and surrounding environs | |
| India | Sharavathi Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Shettihalli Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Sibsagar Tanks | |
| India | Simlipal National Park | |
| India | Sitamata Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Son Beel | |
| India | Sonanadi Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Sonkhaliya Closed Area | |
| India | Sri Venkateswara Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park | |
| India | Srivilliputhur Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Subansiri | |
| India | Sultanpur National Park | |
| India | Sunabeda Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Tadoba National Park and Andhari Tiger Reserve | |
| India | Tal Chhapar Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Taloda Reserve Forest | |
| India | Tamaranga - Dalani - Bhairab Complex | |
| India | Tansa Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | The Chapories of Lohit Reserve | |
| India | Thol Lake Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Tirap - Burhidihing | |
| India | Toranmal Reserve Forest | |
| India | Udanti and Sitanadi Wildlife Sanctuaries | |
| India | Udhuwa Lake Bird Sanctuary | |
| India | Upper Dihing (East) Complex | |
| India | Upper Dihing (West) Complex | |
| India | Urpod Beel | |
| India | Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary | |
| India | Wild Ass Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| India | Wynaad Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Laos | Attapu Plain | |
| Laos | Dong Khanthung | |
| Laos | Siphandon | |
| Laos | Xe Pian | |
| Myanmar | Ayeyarwaddy River: Moda Section | |
| Myanmar | Bwe Pa | |
| Myanmar | Htamanthi Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Myanmar | Hukaung Valley Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Myanmar | Indawgyi Lake and Indawgyi River | |
| Myanmar | Inle Bird Sanctuary (including Balu Chuang, Sagar and Mobye) | |
| Myanmar | Kamaing | |
| Myanmar | Myitkyina-Nandebad-Talawagyi | |
| Myanmar | Nam San Valley | |
| Myanmar | Ninety-Six Inns | |
| Myanmar | Upper Moguang Chaung basin | |
| Myanmar | Uyu River | |
| Myanmar | Zeihmu Range | |
| Nepal | Annapurna Conservation Area | |
| Nepal | Barandabhar forests and wetlands | |
| Nepal | Bardia National Park | |
| Nepal | Chitwan National Park | |
| Nepal | Dang Deukhuri foothill forests and west Rapti wetlands | |
| Nepal | Dharan forests | |
| Nepal | Farmlands in Lumbini area | |
| Nepal | Ghodaghodi Lake | |
| Nepal | Jagdishpur Reservoir | |
| Nepal | Khaptad National Park | |
| Nepal | Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and Koshi Barrage | |
| Nepal | Mai Valley forests | |
| Nepal | Nawalparasi forests | |
| Nepal | Parsa Wildlife Reserve | |
| Nepal | Rampur valley | |
| Nepal | Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve | |
| Pakistan | Indus Waterfowl Refuge | |
| Pakistan | Ucchali Wetland Complex | |
| Thailand | Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary | |
| Vietnam | Ya Lop | |
Habitats & altitude
| Habitat (level 1) | Habitat (level 2) | Importance | Occurrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial/Terrestrial | Urban Areas | suitable | resident |
| Forest | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | resident |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Dry | suitable | resident |
| Grassland | Subtropical/Tropical Seasonally Wet/Flooded | suitable | resident |
| Savanna | Dry | suitable | resident |
| Shrubland | Subtropical/Tropical Moist | suitable | resident |
| Altitude | 0 - 1500 m | Occasional altitudinal limits | (max) 3000 m |
Threats & impact
| Threat (level 1) | Threat (level 2) | Impact and Stresses | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources / Persecution/control | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Decline | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
| |||||||||
| Natural system modifications | Other ecosystem modifications | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Minority (<50%) | Slow, Significant Decline | Low Impact: 5 | ||||||
| |||||||||
| Pollution | Agricultural & forestry effluents / Type Unknown/Unrecorded | Timing | Scope | Severity | Impact | ||||
| Ongoing | Majority (50-90%) | Very Rapid Declines | High Impact: 8 | ||||||
| |||||||||
Utilisation
| Purpose | Primary form used | Life stage used | Source | Scale | Level | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pets | Whole | Adults and juveniles | Wild | International | Non-trivial | Recent |
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2013) Species factsheet: Gyps bengalensis. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
Recommended citation for factsheets for more than one species: BirdLife International (2013) IUCN Red List for birds. Downloaded from
http://www.birdlife.org on 24/05/2013.
This information is based upon, and updates, the information published in BirdLife International (2000) Threatened birds of the world. Barcelona and Cambridge, UK: Lynx Edicions and BirdLife International, BirdLife International (2004) Threatened birds of the world 2004 CD-ROM and BirdLife International (2008) Threatened birds of the world 2008 CD-ROM. These sources provide the information for species accounts for the birds on the IUCN Red List.
To provide new information to update this factsheet or to correct any errors, please email BirdLife
To contribute to discussions on the evaluation of the IUCN Red List status of Globally Threatened Birds, please visit BirdLife's Globally Threatened Bird Forums.
| Key facts | |
|---|---|
| Current IUCN Red List category | Critically Endangered |
| Family | Accipitridae (Osprey, kites, hawks and eagles) |
| Species name author | (Gmelin, 1788) |
| Population size | 2500-9999 mature individuals |
| Population trend | Decreasing |
| Distribution size (breeding/resident) | 4,920,000 km2 |
| Country endemic? | No |
| Links to further information | |
| - Summary information on this species | |
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