Living theropods turn from scavenging to predation

[Ben Creisler <bscreisler@yahoo.com>]

From: Ben Creisler
bscreisler@yahoo.com
 
In the new issue of Nature:
 
 Antoni Margalida,David Campión & José A. Donázar (2011)
Scavenger turned predator: European vultures' altered behaviour
Nature 480,457(22 December 2011)
doi:10.1038/480457b
http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v480/n7378/full/480457b.html
 
　
Europe's last remaining populations of griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) in Spain 
and southern France have taken to killing livestock, according to the many 
reports received by authorities. This has provoked discontent and incurred 
vengeance from some farmers. The alarming departure of the vultures from their 
normal role as carrion scavengers seems to stem from an increased competition 
for food resources, which may be caused by changes to European sanitary and 
conservation policies.