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Observation of cannibalism in Eurasian Griffons
Gyps fulvus
in SpainAlvaro Camiña & Rafael Palomo
This note refers to an observation of cannibalism in Eurasian Griffon vultures
Gyps fulvus
in Spain.On the morning of 24 March 2002, during a survey of key feeding places forcarrion-eating birds in Spain, two Eurasian Griffons were observed feeding ona griffon carcass in Ciudad Real Province, central Spain (38º38´N; 5º37´W).When we arrived one young griffon was observed on four occasions to peckat the griffon carcass. The second bird remained nearby watching ouractivities and there were pieces of meat (possibly from the dead vulture)hanging from its bill. The photograph illustrates the carcass of the griffon thatthese two vultures were feeding on. The cause of death of the EurasianGriffon is currently being determined.Dead vultures have previously been observed at this feeding place (R.Palomo unpubl. data). During March 2001 21 griffon carcasses, of differentdecaying status, were found, but it appeared as if none of them had been fedon. These vultures were probably poisoned, but analyses which are currentlyunderway will determine the death of the birds. The lack of food could not bethe cause of such behavior. There is enough carcasses for supporting therecorded vulture numbers of all species (see below). Competition betweenconespecifics is unclear because most of birds were young or subadult (weestimate that there are 98 young and subadult vultures per 2 adults, pers.Obs.) and all could have similar probabilities of obtaining food. Interespecificcompetition could be also excluded because the high number of griffonspresent that exclude the other species when starting feeding.We believe that this is the first observation of cannibalism in Spain. Donázar(1993) did not refer to vultures feeding on the carcasses of conspecifics. Theonly reference we found was on cannibalism in African White-backed Vultures
Pseudogyps africanus
(Mundy
et al.
1992). They also referred to anobservation by Mike Jarvis and his colleagues of cannibalism in Cape Griffons
Gyps coprotheres
, but no details were provided.The area in Ciudad Real Province where the Eurasian Griffons were seen isan extensive farm where pigs and sheep are reared. As a consequence of thehigh pig numbers (around 35,000) an illegal place for dropping carcasses
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