Ground Vulture

The ground vulture (Terragypius africanus) is a species of old world vulture native throughout Africa. Unlike almost any other vultures, the ground vulture prefers walking over flying and is not a great flyer, with its flight patterns similar of that of secretary birds, to make up for being a ground dweller instead of being a high-flyer, the ground vulture has the greatest sense of smell of any vulture, being twice as strong as that of the new world's turkey vulture (Cathartes aura). The ground vulture is mainly a scavenger, feeding on dead animals and some human wastes, but can also eat insects and, rarely, sick, young, or old gazelles and impalas. The conservation status of the ground vultures is Least Concern due to successful conservation efforts and the ground vultures' tolerance to human activities, not even poison baits effect much of the ground vulture populations.