Are there any Egyptian vultures left?

Thirty or forty years ago Egyptian vultures were common summer residents of both Jebel Nafusa in Tripolitania and Jebel Akhdar in Cyrenaica. Now I believe (but I hope I am wrong) that it is extinct in Jebel Akhdar and very rare or extinct in Jebel Nafusa. 


The bird is easily recognisable but I just haven't seen it in Libya in summer. As far as I know neither has anyone else in recent years.

Photograph of an Egyptian Vulture in Sudan by Ivailo Angelov

There is no doubt that a small number of central European breeding Egyptian vulture pass through Tripolitania in Libya via Malta. Indeed one such bird called "Brandy" has been tracked this month by Italian scientists. See the map below for its recent route.

Map from CERM Centro Rapaci Minacciati, Endangered raptors centre

A very plausible reason for the probable extinction of the bird in north east Libya (Cyrenaica) has been found. It is now believed many hundreds of Egyptian vultures have been electrocuted by power lines in Sudan over many years. 


A joint expedition between BSPB (Bulgarian Society for Protection of Birds) and the Sudanese Wildlife Society (25.Sept-5.Oct .2010) found 17 electrocuted Egyptian Vultures on the Red Sea coast in North-Eastern Sudan around Port Sudan.

Their research followed earlier work by the German ornithologist Gerhard Nikolaus. In 2004, he found 5 birds under the same power lines as he had discovered 55 electrocuted Egyptian Vultures in 1982. Since the power lines were built in the 1950s it is assumed hundreds of Egyptian vultures have died there.

In the past the area around Port Sudan was the most significant known stop-over site of the species in Sudan during its autumn migration. It is quite probable that Libyan birds have been among them. Now there are very few birds from any country there.

lethal power lines in Sudan

The decline of the Egyptian vulture in Jebel Nafusa is more difficult to establish. It is hardly unlikely these birds would have wintered in Sudan. Sadly there is some evidence of farmers using poisons in Niger and this factor could have effected the Jebel Nafusa situation.. 

an sad sight- an electrocuted Egyptian vulture in Sudan. Photo courtesy of the BSPB 

I don't like publishing sad stories but occasionally I feel moved to do so. I look forward to the day that these birds fly over Cyrenaica again.