gypaetus barbatus
the bearded vulture, also known as der lämmergeier and the ossifrage, is the only living bird species and one of the only vertebrates that specializes in bone-eating. bones make up around 80-90% of their diet.
today, they reside high in mountains in southwest and central asia, east africa, but their range used to expand throughout south europe. in europe in the 1800s-1930s, bearded vultures were rumored to eat children and lambs (hence the german name "lämmergeier" - lamb vulture), and as a result of this negative reputation, were hunted to extinction in the alps. there have been successful reintroduction programs for bearded vultures in europe, but altogether they are still classified as "near threatened" for the same reasons as many vultures - declining food resources and poisoned carcasses.
