A very large, pale vulture of the Tibetan Plateau and Himalaya, central to the Tibetan sky burial.

  • Group: Bird
  • Habitats: Mountains, alpine steppe
  • Regions: Ü Tsang, Kham, Amdo

Habitat

Mountains and open plateau.

Diet

Carcasses of livestock and wild animals.

Ecological role

A scavenger that disposes of carcasses and, in Tibetan sky burial, of human remains.

Threats

Poisoned carcasses and veterinary drugs that are toxic to vultures, and loss of food as herding declines.

Conservation

Listed as Near Threatened by the IUCN.

Sources & References for all of Understanding Tibet