Taxonomy: Vultur bengalensis Gmelin, 1788, Bengal. Monotypic. Forms a superspecies with Gyps africanus, with which it is sometimes considered conspecific; these two are sometimes separated off into the genus Pseudogyps.

Distribution and abundance: As recently as the early 1990s considered among the most abundant birds of prey in India and Pakistan. Now very rare throughout its range, from Pakistan through India and Nepal to south central China (Yunnan), Indochina, and north Malay Peninsula.

Description: 76-93 cm; 3500-6000 g; wingspan 205-220 cm. Adult blackish, medium-sized vulture with white lower back; underwing coverts conspicuously all white; bill and cere dark. Juvenile dark brown, with streaked underparts.

Habitat: Inhabits open country near villages, towns, and cities, as well as parks and sanctuaries, in lowlands and Himalayan foothills up to 1,500 m. Often closely associated with humans, large numbers congregated in and around towns, especially by rubbish dumps and slaughterhouses. Often gathered to roost in large numbers in trees for long periods.

Food and feeding: Exclusively carrion feeders, especially the remains of cattle. Regularly feeds in company of other vultures, especially Gyps indicus, and also other scavengers, e.g., jackals, dogs, and corvids. Carrion located by means of keen eyesight and following other avian scavengers. As in other vulture species, birds tend to gorge themselves, then rest for a long period nearby while food is digested.

Breeding: Season is October through April/May. Forms small (<10) to large (>1000 pairs) colonies in suitable tree groves. A large stick nest is built by a pair, 5-30 m up large trees, often in a village, town, or even city, and often next to a road, stream, or canal. Display flights consist of close mutual soaring of pair. Lays a single egg; incubation at least 45 days by both sexes; nestling period about three months; post-fledgling dependence period is unknown.

Movements: Mainly sedentary when breeding, but foraging movements may exceed 100 km per day. No migratory movements are known but young birds or unpaired adults have the flight capacity to wander over a huge area.

Status and conservation: Globally critically endangered due to catastrophic decline since early 1990s. Species survival depends on removing the pharmaceutical drug diclofenac from vulture food sources, and species recovery efforts. Listed in CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II. Not known to be traded so no need to raise CITES level.

Taxonomy: Vultur indicus Scopoli, 1786, India. May form superspecies with G. himalayensis, G. fulvus, G. coprotheres, and G. rueppellii. Sub-species tenuirostris now considered a separate species.

Distribution and abundance: As recently as the early 1990s considered among the most abundant birds of prey in India. Now very rare throughout its range, from southeast Pakistan and India south of the Ganges River except the extreme south.

Description: 80-100 cm; 5500-6300 g; wingspan 205-229 cm. Medium-sized vulture with pale body and wing coverts; blackish neck with whitish down; bill mostly pale yellow. Juvenile darker.

Habitat: Inhabits open country near villages, towns, and cities, as well as parks and sanctuaries, in lowlands. Often closely associated with humans, large numbers congregated in and around towns, especially by rubbish dumps and slaughterhouses. Occurs on lowland plains, nesting on cliffs.

Food and feeding: Exclusively carrion feeders, especially the remains of cattle. Regularly feeds in company of other vultures, especially the once more numerous Gyps bengalensis, and also other scavengers, e.g., jackals, dogs, and corvids. Carrion located by means of keen eyesight and following other avian scavengers. As in other vulture species, birds tend to gorge themselves, then rest for a long period nearby while food is digested.

Breeding: Season is October through April/May. Forms small (<10) to large (>200 pairs) colonies on suitable cliffs. Nest is a loose platform of sticks lined with grass and leaves. Display flights consist of close mutual soaring of pair. Lays a single egg; incubation at least 45 days by both sexes; nestling period about three months; post-fledgling dependence period is unknown.

Movements: Mainly sedentary when breeding, but foraging movements may exceed 100 km per day. No migratory movements are known but young birds or unpaired adults have the flight capacity to wander over a huge area.

Status and conservation: Globally critically endangered due to catastrophic decline since early 1990s. Species survival depends on removing the pharmaceutical drug diclofenac from vulture food sources, and species recovery efforts. Listed in CITES Appendix II, CMS Appendix II. Not known to be traded so no need to raise CITES level.

Taxonomy: Gyps indicus tenuirostris G.R. Gray, 1844. Now considered a separate species Gyps tenuirostris (Rasmussen and Parry, 2000).

Distribution and abundance: Gangetic Plain from at least western Uttar Pradesh along the lower Himalayas through Nepal to Assam, south to Calcutta and Bangladesh. Formerly found at least sporadically as far east and south as Vietnam and Malaysia, but has almost disappeared from southeast Asia. Small numbers of birds recently seen in Cambodia. Status unknown but apparently now very rare (only one colony known of >10 pairs in Nepal).

Description: Similar in size to the Long-billed Vulture, the Slender-billed Vulture looks markedly different from other Gyps, with a slender neck, thin elongate bill and front of face, angular crown, and generally more slender body appearance, with darker coloration.

Habitat: Inhabits open country near villages, towns, and cities, as well as parks and sanctuaries, in lowlands and foothills of the Himalayas. Nests in loose colonies (lower density than either Gyps bengalensis or indicus) in trees.

Food and feeding: Exclusively carrion feeders, especially the remains of cattle. Regularly feeds in company of other vultures, especially the once more numerous Gyps bengalensis, and also other scavengers, e.g., jackals, dogs, and corvids. Carrion located by means of keen eyesight and following other avian scavengers. As in other vulture species, birds tend to gorge themselves, then rest for a long period nearby while food is digested.

Breeding: Season is October/November through March/April. Forms small (<10) loose (lower density) colonies in suitable trees. Builds a compact nest 7-15 m up large leafy trees. Display flights not described but probably like other Gyps consisting of close mutual soaring of pair. Lays a single egg; adults share nesting duties; chick has yellowish brown down. No further information available.

Movements: Mainly sedentary when breeding. No migratory movements are known but young birds or unpaired adults have the flight capacity to wander over a huge area.

Status and conservation: Globally critically endangered due to catastrophic decline since early 1990s. Species survival depends on removing the pharmaceutical drug diclofenac from vulture food sources, and species recovery efforts. Listed as Gyps indicus in CITES Appendix II and CMS Appendix II. Not known to be traded so no need to raise CITES level.