In a safety study, Cape Griffon vultures (Gyps coprotheres) were dosed with ketoprofen at single doses of ~1 mg/kg (n = 5) and 5 mg/kg (n = 11). No toxicity was reported in the 1 mg/kg group, with ...the AUCinf, Vz and Cl being 10.42 μg/ml h, 0.37 l/kg and 0.10 l/h kg, respectively. Toxicity occurred in the 5 mg/kg group, with 7 of the 11 birds dying. Clinical signs of toxicity included depression, loss of appetite and apparent coma. Animals died within 48 h of dosing. The AUCinf, Vz and Cl in the birds that survived were 52.26 μg/ml h, 0.45 l/kg and 0.10 l/h kg, respectively. The AUCinf, Vz and Cl in the birds those died were 207.90 μg/ml h, 0.26 l/kg and 0.02 l/h kg, respectively. Based on the increase in the AUCinf and Cmax in the birds that died, we surmise that toxicity resulted from saturation of the metabolic process. While the exact metabolic pathway remains unknown in these vultures, we believe that toxicity may be due to pharmacogenomic differences in the cytochrome P450 pathway.
We present the first case of angioinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in a Himalayan Griffon vulture (Gyps himalayensis). We describe in detail the clinical, gross, ...histopathological and mycological findings. Clinical signs of weakness, emaciation, dyspnea, incoordination, and inability to fly were observed in this bird before succumbing to the illness, despite supportive care. Grossly, several yellowish circumscribed, raised, miliary nodules were observed on the surface of lungs, air sac membranes, trachea, pericardium, aorta, pulmonary artery and kidneys. Histologically, granulomatous pneumonia and airsacculitis, and angioinvasion of fungal hyphae were noticed. Aspergillus fumigatus organism was isolated from the lungs and air sacs of the bird. This seems to be the first report of angioinvasive pulmonary aspergillosis in birds of prey, and a rare finding in avian species.
Haematological analysis is an essential field of veterinary medicine that provides inexpensive and reliable support to determinate animal health. The knowledge of how different factors affect the ...normal mean values of blood parameters is key to understand and improve animal health. In order to investigate how captivity can affect the haematological profile of birds of prey, the erythrocyte count, haemoglobin concentration, haematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, total leukocytes count of 123 griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) were analysed. The birds were divided into 4 groups according to their life conditions: a control group of free-living griffons, 2 semi-captive groups held in an aviary for 15 and 30 days respectively, representing short-term captivity, and a captive group that had lived in cage for about 2 years. Our results showed that long-term captivity could influence haematocrit value and haemoglobin concentration. Furthermore, discriminant analysis highlighted significant separation between the captive birds on one hand and the control group and the semi-captive birds on the other. Instead, short-term captivity did not seem to affect prominently haemocytometric profile.
The aim of this study was to record the Schirmer tear test I (STT I) measurements in free-living vultures in order to estimate normal values. The Eurasian black vulture (Aegypius monachus), which ...breeds in the Mediterranean region and Asia, is listed as near threatened; it is also classified as vulnerable at the European level and endangered in Greece. The griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), once widespread across the continent, has undergone a dramatic decline which has led to its extinction in many regions. Sixty-two animals were examined in total including 54 black vultures and 8 griffon vultures. The birds were classified into five age groups while four age groups were then combined into one large group: free-flying. STT I measurements and complete ophthalmic examinations were performed. Mean STT I value for black vultures was 10.9 ± 3.3 mm/min (right eye, oculus dexter, OD) and 11.9 ± 3.3 mm/min (left eye, oculus sinister, OS) and for griffon vultures was 6.4 ± 1.8 mm/min OD and 6.5 ± 1.8 mm/min OS. In both eyes, STT I values in black vultures were significantly higher than those recorded in griffon vultures. Intraspecific comparisons yielded a significant difference between eyes of black vultures but not between those of griffon vultures, with OS producing higher STT I readings than did OD. When STT I was compared between OD and OS for each age group separately, a statistically significant difference was detected in the immature and free-flying black vultures. In addition, black vulture hatchlings had a significantly higher tear production than did free-flying juveniles, immatures, subadults, and adults. STT I values in black vultures are similar to those reported in other Accipitriformes but are lower in griffon vultures. This difference is probably related to anatomic, evolutionary, and feeding factors and requires further investigation.
Management of hunting activity to serve as a tool for sustainable development has become a key issue in conservation biology. However, little evidence is available showing positive impacts of hunting ...on ecosystem conservation, limiting its capability to be used as a conservation tool. We analysed hunting and its positive influence on the ecology and conservation of the griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus), a scavenger with a relevant function in the ecosystem, in the Cantabrian Mountains, NW Spain. Use of the area by vultures was addressed by looking for cliffs used as roosts or colonies, and consumption of game species by vultures was evaluated through field surveys and questionnaires to hunters. Results revealed a strong spatiotemporal adjustment in the use of the area by vultures and hunting events, especially of red deer and wild boar. Vultures occupied roosting sites very close to the main hunting sectors of these game species and often were seen consuming their carcasses. The spatiotemporal pattern of roost use by vultures strongly overlapped with hunting of red deer. The numbers of both red deer and wild boar hunting episodes within 3.5 km around the roosts were the best predictors of vulture occurrence and number. Our estimates show that hunting could feed around 1,800 vultures/6 months. Hunting can thus influence species at the top of the ecosystem (scavengers) and could aid sustainable management of griffon vulture populations, reconciling hunting and conservation. However, negative and positive impacts should be taken into account simultaneously for an overall evaluation of hunting on ecosystem conservation.
It is generally considered that limiting the loss of genetic diversity in reintroduced populations is essential to optimize the chances of success of population restoration. Indeed, to counter ...founder effect in a reintroduced population we should maximize the genetic variability within the founding group but also take into account networks of natural populations in the choice of the reintroduction area. However, assessment of relevant reintroduction strategies requires long-term post-release genetic monitoring. In this study, we analyzed genetic data from a network of native and reintroduced Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus) populations successfully restored in Southern Europe. Using microsatellite markers, we characterized the level of genetic diversity and degree of genetic structure within and among three native colonies, four captive founding groups and one long-term monitored reintroduced population. We also used Bayesian assignment analysis to examine recent genetic connections between the reintroduced population and the other populations. We aimed to assess the level of fragmentation among native populations, the effectiveness of random choice of founders to retain genetic variability of the species, the loss of genetic diversity in the reintroduced population and the effect of gene flow on this founder effect. Our results indicate that genetic diversity was similar in all populations but we detected signs of recent isolation for one native population. The reintroduced population showed a high immigration rate that limited loss of genetic diversity. Genetic investigations performed in native populations and post-released genetic monitoring have direct implications for founder choice and release design.
Griffon vultures (Genus
Gyps) have large areas of bare skin on their body, and by changing their posture they can vary the extent to which these are covered by feathers. We used a mathematical model ...to estimate the amount of bare skin exposed in the postures adopted in cold and hot conditions. Measurements of heat flow through different parts of museum skins, which differed in their feather density, were then used together with the estimates of proportions of body surface covered by each feather density type, to determine rates of heat loss from the whole body. Postural change can cause the proportion of body surface composed of bare skin areas to change from 32% to 7%, and in cold conditions these changes are sufficient to account for a 52% saving in heat loss from the body. We suggest that the bare skin areas in griffon vultures may play an important role in thermoregulation.
In this study we used the Travel Cost (TCM) and Contingent Valuation Methods (CVM) to estimate the value of an endangered species. We also determined the break even point in the allocation of funds ...targeted at protection at the regional level and performed a cost benefit analysis of conservation efforts on a national level. The Griffon Vulture,
Gyps fulvus, was the animal tested in our case study in Israel. The Griffon Vulture is an endangered species whose protection is crucial in maintaining the natural ecosystem but whose protection is quite costly. We used TCM at two nature reserves in Israel: Gamla Nature Reserve in the Golan Heights; and Hai-Bar Nature Reserve on Mount Carmel. CVM was implemented at both sites and within a sample of the general population. TCM results showed an economic benefit of 2.4
M. USD per year at Hai-Bar and of 2.94
M. USD per year at Gamla. CVM results showed a willingness to pay (WTP) for protecting vultures of 2.70
M. USD at Gamla and 0.98
M. USD at Hai-Bar. The value of the marginal vulture was found to be approximately 8500 USD at Gamla and 79,000 USD at Hai-Bar. The cost of protecting vultures was taken from the financial reports of the Israel Nature Reserves and Parks Authority and was found to be 19,000 USD per year. The economic efficiency of feeding stations was examined from two aspects:
(1)
Break-even point: It was found that in order to be economically efficient, the feeding station should help increase the vulture population by an average of at least 0.24 individuals per year at Hai-Bar and by at least 2.20 individuals per year at Gamla.
(2)
“Porsim Kanaf” project
1
1
“Porsim Kanaf” is the major birds of prey conservation project in Israel.
: The cost of protecting one vulture according to the budget of the National project was calculated to be 6500 USD per year. It was shown that the project passes a Cost-Benefit test based on the valuation results.
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