First confirmed records of Rüppell's Vultures (Gyps rueppelli) in Malawi

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First confirmed records of Rüppell’s Vultures (Gyps rueppelli) in Malawi.
Olivia Sievert1*, Craig Reid2, Andre Botha3
1 Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa
2African Parks, Bryanston, South Africa
3Endangered Wildlife Trust, Modderfontein, South Africa
* Corresponding author: olivia.sievert@gmail.com
http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/vulnew.v78i1.4
There is little contemporary research or literature
on the ecology and movements of vultures in
Malawi (see, Roxburgh & McDougall 2012,
Galanou 2016, Sievert et al. 2018).
Consequentially, the Convention on the
Conservation of Migratory Species’ Vulture Multi-
Species Action Plan, has identified Malawi as a
considerable knowledge gap for eastern and
southern African vulture populations (Botha et al.
2017). Historical information on the distribution of
vultures in Malawi is also sparse. However, four
species have been recorded as residents in Malawi,
namely: African White-backed Vulture Gyps
africanus, White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps
occipitalis, Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
and Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
(Botha et al. 2017). Additionally, two species have
been identified as non-breeding visitors to Malawi,
the Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos and
the Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres (Botha et al.
2017).
In the southern region of Malawi, vulture
monitoring in the form of opportunistic road counts
and camera trapping at carcasses, has been
underway in Liwonde National Park (14º50'31.5"S
35º20'59.9"E; Figure 1) since 2017. On the 6th of
November 2018 during monitoring, an adult
Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli was spotted
feeding on an impala Aepyceros melampus among
African White-backed Vultures and a Marabou
Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus (Figure 2). This
was the sole report or record of Rüppell’s Vultures
in Liwonde National Park that year. However, in
2019, a large bull African elephant Loxodonta
africana was found deceased through natural
causes in the central section of the park. Camera
trapping at this carcass took place for 52 days (5th
of May – 11th of July) during which time Rüppell’s
Vultures were photographed. Over the course of
2019, a total of eight camera trap days yielded
photos of suspected Rüppell’s Vultures. An
additional report in 2019 totalled the number of
suspected Rüppell’s Vulture sightings in 2019 to
nine. Five of these sightings had high enough
quality images to allow species confirmation
(Figures 3,4,5,6,7), leaving four sightings
inconclusive.
Plumage of the individuals photographed
confirms a minimum of two separate Rüppell’s
Vultures, an adult and an immature, visiting the
park in 2019. However, given the number of
inconclusive sightings the authors cannot rule out
the presence of additional individuals. Initial
species identification was made based on plumage
while referencing Rodriguez & Elorriaga (2016).
Images were then sent to experts with extensive
experience working with the species for final
confirmation.

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Figure 1: Map of (a) Rüppell’s Vulture sightings in Liwonde National Park (2018-2019), (b) Liwonde National
Park with indication to the area of sightings (c) the location of Liwonde National Park in Malawi.
Figure 2: Adult Rüppell’s Vulture photographed at an impala carcass with African White-backed Vultures and Marabou
Storks, 6th November 2018.

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Figure 3: A camera trap image of an immature Rüppell’s Vulture (indicated by red box) feeding on an elephant carcass with
African White-backed Vultures and Marabou Storks, 3rd June 2019.
Figure 4: A camera trap image of an adult Rüppell’s Vulture (indicated by red box) resting on an elephant carcass with
African White-backed Vultures and Marabou Storks, 6th June 2019.

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Figure 5: A camera trap image of an adult Rüppell’s Vulture (indicated by red box) resting on an elephant carcass with
African White-backed Vultures and Marabou Storks, 16th June 2019.
Figure 6: A camera trap image of an immature Rüppell’s Vulture (indicated by red box) feeding on an elephant carcass with
African White-backed Vultures and Marabou Storks, 19th June 2019.

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Figure 7: A camera trap image of an adult Rüppell’s Vulture (indicated by red box) feeding on an elephant carcass with
African White-backed Vultures and Marabou Storks, 22nd June 2019.
To the authors’ knowledge, these are the first
records of Rüppell’s Vultures in Malawi. Rüppell’s
Vultures occur throughout the Sahel region and the
East African savanna regions. A recent study of a
satellite tagged adult Rüppell’s Vultures revealed a
range size of 71,990 km2 over ten months (Virani
et al. 2012). Moreover, individuals have been
recorded on several occasions outside of the species
range in both the Iberian Peninsula and southern
Africa (Rodriguez & Elorriaga 2016, Botha et al.
2017, Botha & Román 2018). However, prior to our
report, there has been no definite evidence of the
species in Malawi. The recent sightings in Liwonde
National Park coupled with the recent record in
central Mozambique (Botha & Román 2018),
roughly 443 km southwest of Liwonde National
Park, suggests this species may be an uncommon
visitor to Malawi.
Considering the alarming decline in vulture
populations across Africa and the large multi-
country home ranges that many vulture species
inhabit, the development of cross-country
legislation is vital in the conservation of remaining
populations (Botha et al. 2017, Buechley et al.
2018). However, the large knowledge gaps that
remain must be addressed in order to create
informed conservation initiatives. Since the
initiation of Liwonde National Park’s vulture
monitoring in 2017, five species have been
identified across 241 sightings, including the before
mentioned Rüppell’s Vultures. Although Rüppell’s
Vultures may have occurred sporadically in Malawi
previously, no formal records could be located,
thereby demonstrating the importance of long-term
monitoring in expanding our knowledge of the
ranging behaviour of Africa’s vulture species.

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Acknowledgements
We are grateful for feedback from reviewers and thank Munir Virani, Darcy Ogada and Simon Thomsett
for assisting with the confirmation of species identification.
Ethical Standards
Vulture monitoring in Liwonde National Park is conducted by African Parks Liwonde. African Parks
has the required authorizations and mandate to undertake vulture monitoring in Liwonde National Park.
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