Why vultures don t get poisoned when they eat carrion Why vultures don t get sick if they eat carrio

Mondo Social Updated on 2024-01-28

The vulture is an animal that eats carrion, hence the title of grassland cleaner. Vultures' prey is generally the carcasses of other animals, especially the rotting corpses, which are the vultures' favorite. However, we will also be curious that carrion has so many bacteria. Why don't vultures get poisoned when they eat carrion?Let's find out. Why don't vultures get poisoned by eating carrion

Birds, because vultures possess a powerful stomach. The stomach of vultures is ten times more acidic than that of humans, and it can destroy ingested pathogenic bacteria in large quantities. Vultures have a strong immune system that produces antibodies against certain species in the genus Clostridium and can defend against some neurotoxins. The microbial population in the vulture's gut also plays a key role. Over a long period of evolution, these gut bacteria have developed a reciprocal relationship with vultures. With these special abilities, vultures can first filter out susceptible microorganisms when eating, leaving behind those bacteria that are beneficial to them. Why do vultures eat carrion?The result of natural selection: the vulture's body structure and physiological characteristics make it more suitable for scavenging. Their strong mouth and neck muscles are capable of tearing and pecking at hard carrion, while their digestive system is capable of processing potentially pathogenic bacteria and toxins in carrion. Resource allocation: Vultures choose scavengers to avoid competing with other carnivores for the same food resource. Also, carrion is easier to obtain, as dead animals usually stay in one place for long periods of time without escaping like live prey. Environmental needs: The habitat of vultures is usually located in arid areas, and scavengers can provide them with water and nutrients. The kidneys of these birds are very powerful enough to filter and concentrate the water in the carrion and use it for the body's needs.

Migratory bird migration. How many levels of protection are vultures a protected animal?It is a first-class protected animal in China. The vulture is a large bird of prey in the family Eagle family. The adult bird has a bare head and neck, and has brown down feathers from forehead to occipital areaSparse black hairy downfeathers around the eyes and ears on the side of the head, and bare eyebrows and nape of the neck**Blue-grey, with lanceolate tufted feathers at the base of the neck;Body plumage dark brown, flight plumage black-brown;The iris is dark brown and the beak is strong;Young birds resemble adults but have darker bodies and more exposed heads. Because its head is covered with feathers and the back of its neck is partially bald, it is called a vulture. The vultures themselves are less reproductive, and their numbers have declined dramatically. In 2020, it was included in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (IUCN) and listed as Near Threatened (NT). It is included in the List of Key Protected Wild Animals in China and is a first-class protected animal in China.

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