A critically endangered african vulture starts breeding in europe: escaping from extinction or entering a genetic amalgamation trap?

The collapse of vulture populations in Africa is profoundly affecting the critically endangered Ruppell's Vulture Gyps rueppelli. This species may be beginning to colonise the Western Palearctic, where the only successful breeding recorded to date is reported here. This breeding event, like some previous unsuccessful attempts, involved a hybrid pair with a Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus. This hybridisation could eventually result in the abundant Griffon Vulture genetically assimilating the rare Ruppell's Vulture. In this context, Europe may function as a genetic amalgamation trap for Ruppell's Vulture. This paradigmatic case may require a major change in conservation strategies and action planning to include areas outside Ruppell's Vulture's native range, such as the Iberian Peninsula, the Maghreb and southern Africa.