Vol.3, No.6, 431-437 (2013) Open Journal of Ecology http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/oje.2013.36049 Patterns of nest placement of lappet faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) in Lochinvar National Park, Kafue Flats, Zambia Chansa Chomba 1* , Eneya M’simuko 2 , Vincent Nyirenda 3 1 School of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Disaster Management Training Centre, Mulungushi University, Kabwe, Zambia; * Corresponding Author: chansachomba@rocketmail.com , ritachansa@yahoo.com 2 School of Natural Resources, Copperbelt University, Kitwe, Zambia 3 Department of Research, Zambia Wildlife Authority, Chilanga, Zambia Received 5 September 2013; revised 5 October 2013; accepted 13 October 2013 Copyright © 2013 Chansa Chomba et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT This study assessed the nesting patterns of lap- pet faced vulture in Lochinvar National Park, on the Kafue flats, Zambia. Road drives and foot patrols were used to identify and take GPS co- ordinates of lappet faced vulture nests. The main objectives of the study were: 1) to obtain basic breeding information of lappet-faced vul- ture in Lochinvar National Park and the Kafue Flats in general, 2) to determine size of the breeding population in the National Park, 3) to document distribution of the nesting sites, 4) to facilitate development of a monitoring pro- gramme that would secure the nesting sites from human disturbance, and 5) to determine availability of suitable nesting sites and major threats that may interfere with breeding. Tree species on which nests were found were identi- fied and height of nest above ground was esti- mated. A total of 22 nests were recorded with 5 (23%) being lappet faced vulture nests on seven species of trees. The mean height for nest placa- menet was 10 m above ground. Host tree phy- siognomy, size and height were important cha- racteristics in nest placement. Large trees of 10 m and above are critical in facilitating nest placement and must be protected in identified breeding sites. Keywords: Raptors; Nest Placement; Tree Height; Lochinvar; Kafue Flats; Habitat 1. INTRODUCTION Vultures are very special type of raptors. They locate carcasses by scanning the ground while soaring high in the air [1]. While they soar, they also observe each other, so that when one identifies a carcass and descends, oth- ers would follow. They are large and robustly built (Fig- ure 1), and due to their large size, they mainly depend on soaring flight and often congregate in large numbers at a carcass. After identifying potential food, they usually perch on nearby trees to be sure that the animal is dead, and this is why it is important to have large trees with branches large enough to support their weight. From the perch, one or few brave birds will take the lead to the carcass and soon others will follow. Like other raptors, vultures are on top of the food chain and as such play an important role in the functioning of ecosystems. Re- garding its size, the lappet-faced vulture is the largest of the three dark vulture species, the other two being hooded (Necrosyrtes monachus) and white headed (Aegy- pius occipitalis) (Figure 1). It also ranks as the longest and largest winged vulture in its range behind the close- ly related cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus) [1], although some co-occurring Gyps vultures tend to be heavier on average, especially the cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) and Eurasian griffon (Gyps fulvus). Its hea- vy yellowish hooked bill and bare red head with its consipicuous skin folds are a major diagnostic feature among other raptors (Figure 2). The Lappet-faced vulture or Nubian vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) is mostly African Old World vulture be- longing to order Accipitriformes, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks, but its size and shape of beak are unmistakenly larger than other raptors (Fig- ure 2). It is the only member of the genus Torgos. It was formerly considered monotypical, but has now been separated into two subspecies: 1) the nominate race which is found almost throughout Africa, and 2) sub- Copyright © 2013 SciRes. OPEN ACCESS