 The Vulture
Vultures are not attractive birds,
but they perform a critical function in the cycle of
Etoshan life. A scavenger -- meaning that it feeds on
animal carcasses -- the vulture is like a janitor,
cleaning up the messy, rotting scraps of prey left by
predators.
Fit to the
Task
With a wingspan that can stretch up
to 10 feet, the vulture is able to glide high on rising
air currents in search for food. The cornea of a
vulture's eye has a special magnifying area that allows
it to spy signs of feeding hundreds of feet below. When a
vulture reaches a meal, its long, thin neck and bare head
allow it to probe easily inside a carcass.
A Killer of Beasts?
When it comes to hunting, vultures
never kill big game. They prefer to arrive after another
animal has made a kill.
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