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<p>The European Griffon Vulture <italic>Gyps fulvus</italic> is a large-sized scavenger exploiting carcasses of livestock and wild ungulates and thus having a paramount importance in the natural ecosystems. In this study, we report on an adult Griffon Vulture detected with lead levels in the bones over the threshold. After two years of tracking, the bird died. The corpse’s clinical examination and radiography detected the presence of two embedded lead pellets from a healed gunshot wound in its right wing. Quantitative laboratory analysis of lead in bone and liver samples evidencing subclinical/chronic lead intoxication of the Griffon Vulture could potentially be a result of the long-term exposure to the lead originating from the pellets in its wing.</p>
</abstract>

The European Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is a large-sized scavenger exploiting carcasses of livestock and wild ungulates and thus having a paramount importance in the natural ecosystems. In this study, we report on an adult Griffon Vulture detected with lead levels in the bones over the threshold. After two years of tracking, the bird died. The corpse’s clinical examination and radiography detected the presence of two embedded lead pellets from a healed gunshot wound in its right wing. Quantitative laboratory analysis of lead in bone and liver samples evidencing subclinical/chronic lead intoxication of the Griffon Vulture could potentially be a result of the long-term exposure to the lead originating from the pellets in its wing.

Long-term lead intoxication of Griffon Vulture (<italic>Gyps fulvus</italic> Hablizl, 1783) supposedly the result of illegal shooting

Ornis Hungarica

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Long-term lead intoxication of Griffon Vulture ( Hablizl, 1783) supposedly the result of illegal shooting

The European Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus is a large-sized scavenger exploiting carcasses of livestock and wild ungulates and thus having a paramount importance...

Long-term lead intoxication of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783) supposedly the result of illegal shooting

Published Online: Jun 22, 2021

Page range: 179 - 185

Received: Mar 23, 2021

Accepted: May 31, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2021-0014

Keywords
scavenger, toxicity, heavy metal, Eastern Rhodopes, embedded lead pellets

© 2021 Anton Stamenov et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Long-term lead intoxication of Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus Hablizl, 1783) supposedly the result of illegal shooting

Published Online: Jun 22, 2021

Page range: 179 - 185

Received: Mar 23, 2021

Accepted: May 31, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orhu-2021-0014

Keywordsscavenger, toxicity, heavy metal, Eastern Rhodopes, embedded lead pellets

© 2021 Anton Stamenov et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Keywords
scavenger, toxicity, heavy metal, Eastern Rhodopes, embedded lead pellets