Extensive livestock rearing is a key food resource for the endangered Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

PEDRO PÉREZ OLEA; MARÍA EUGENIA CABRERA GARCÍA; PATRICIA MATEO TOMÁS

Puerto Iguazú

Congreso; Ornithological Congress of the Americas XVII RAO/ XXIV CBO/ XCV AFO; 2017

Association of Field Ornithologists, Sociedade Brasileira de Ornitologia y Aves Argentinas,

Diet is a basic aspect of animal ecology with important conservation implications. The current global crisis affecting vultures is mainly related to human-mediated food resources: consumption of carrion contaminated with diclofenac in Asia, lead in America and Europe, and poison and antibiotics in Europe and Africa, and reduced carrion availability due to outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Europe. The Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus), classified worldwide as "Endangered", is severely affected by these feeding problems. However, the diet of most local populations is unknown, which makes it difficult to assess the real impact of the availability and quality of trophic resources in their conservation. We analyzed the diet of the Egyptian vulture in León (northwestern Spain). The estimated 59 couples in this area represent around 4% of the Spanish breeding population that, in turn, supposes ~50% of the European population. We identified 312 items (range: 7-58 items/nest) collected (by climbing) in the years 2007, 2009 and 2010. Livestock dominated the diet of the Egyptian vulture (i.e. 24% of the remains). Sheep and goats accounted for 11.8% and cow for 7% of the total remains. Habitat structure and the presence of human settlements and other vulture species nearby would explain the species diet. This study shows the importance of extensive livestock rearing in the diet of the Egyptian vulture in northwestern Spain. Our results agree with previous studies on the need to consider extensive livestock in the management and conservation of this endangered vulture.