Soaring above the open plains of Africa, Rüppell's griffon flies higher than any other bird. In 1973, a griffon collided with an aircraft finest flying at more than 11,000 m (36,000 ft) which is high enough to fly over Mt Everest. At these heights, the bird has a vast panoramic view, and it can easily cover more than 150 km (95 miles) a day in search of food. But at altitude even the long-sighted griffon has difficulty picking out tiny details on the ground, so it watches other vultures flying beneath and is quick to follow them if they spot a meal.
To survive at such altitudes the griffon vulture needs some of nature's finest engineering. Its ultra-efficient lungs allow it to get enough oxygen to ugh to breathe, and its giant wings provide it with lift in the thin air.
GIANT WINGS A griffon vulture's wings can be 2.8 m (9 ft) from tip to tip. This huge wingspan is supported by a lightweight bone structure.
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