- The Egyptian vulture ( Neophron percnopterus ) is classified under the ‘Endangered’ (EN) red list of the International Union for Conversation of Nature (IUCN).
- The species is popularly known as safed giddh (white vulture) in Hindi.
- According to BirdLife International, a global partnership of organisations working for the conservation of birds, the present global breeding population of the Egyptian vulture is estimated to be 12,000 to 38,000 individuals.
- Habitat Niche : Egyptian vultures usually build their nests on the cliffs of mountains, roofs of buildings and on tree-tops.
- Food Niche of the species : The species rarely hunt its food — the birds mostly feed on dead carcasses of animals, birds and reptiles. They eat eggs and sometimes, in the absence of animal carcasses, switch over to household solid waste like rotten fruits and vegetables.
- Why in news? A new breeding centre for the species has started in Punjab University Campus.
