The vulture latches on to its rival with its impressive talons RAJAJI NATIONAL PARK, INDIA, ACTION-PACKED images of two vultures engaged in battle over feeding rights to a carcass have been captured - with one combatant sustaining a VERY nasty beak to the neck.
Images show the vultures engaged in combat mid air, striking out at each other with their sharp talons and beaks on even pins the other to the ground.
Vulture wingspans can be as large as nine feet and in adulthood they can weigh 22 lbs. According to the photographer who has spent countless hours observing these birds in their natural habitat, such battles are unusual because vultures usually respect the "pecking order" taking their turn based on the established hierarchy of their group.
However, vultures can be highly confrontational when it comes to protecting a food source.
These images were captured by wildlife photographer Shailza Singhal from India who was interviewed by mediadrumworld.com.
Shailza captured the scrapping vultures in Rajaji National Park, India on her Sony a1, Sony 200 - 600 mm lens.
“From a distance, I noticed a cattle carcass surrounded by around 50 vultures,” said Shailza.
“It was fascinating to observe their feeding behaviorÃł typically, only a few vultures would feed at a time while the rest patiently waited their turn, respecting an established hierarchy.
“After some time, few others would cautiously approach for their share, often leading to a scuffle.
“Sometimes, these tussles would take a more aggressive turn.
“This is not a very common sight. If food is limited or scarce, they get confrontational.
“Birdlife intrigues me. Moments like these make me want to keep returning to the jungle.
“Capturing behavior is a special and rare opportunity, which is why I treasure every shot in this series.
“Moments like these provide important insights into the behavior of species, which is crucial for their conservation. Vultures as we know are endangered.”
ENDS
