In 1973, a Rüppell vulture collided with a commercial airliner at an unprecedented altitude of 11,300 m above the Ivory Coast. Despite the collision, the plane was able to make a successful landing, but unfortunately, the vulture did not survive. The Rüppell vulture holds the world record for flying at such high altitudes.
These highly social birds pair for life and both parents share in caring for their young. Their habitat spans the Sahel region of Africa, but they are critically endangered due to various threats like poisoning from pesticides like carbofuran and drugs like diclofenac that can be fatal if ingested by the vultures when feeding on contaminated carrion. Despite their large wingspan, Rüppell vultures prefer to ride thermal currents when flying to search for food rather than using their wings.
One of the distinctive features of Rüppell vultures is their bald head, an adaptation for burying their heads in prey carcasses while eating. Other birds that compete for altitude records include white-necked cranes and Indian geese, but Rüppell vultures remain a formidable flier with unique behaviors that play a crucial role in their ecosystem despite facing significant threats to their survival.
