High-flying vulture is grounded after four days of freedom

Published on Sunday 22 August 2010 15:13

A VULTURE which went missing from a Scottish bird of prey centre prompting warnings from air traffic controllers has been found.

• Together again: Gandalf the errant vulture and handler Mark Price

Gandalf, a Ruppell's griffon vulture, native to Africa, vanished from World of Wings in Cumbernauld on Tuesday last week.

The seven-year-old female - which has a 10-and-a-half-foot wingspan and can soar at 36,000 feet - was taking part in a flying display for visitors when she disappeared from view.

Warnings were issued to aircraft over Scotland to be on the lookout for the giant bird, as her handlers became increasingly worried for its welfare.

After more than four days on the loose, Gandalf was spotted on Saturday night, perching on a telegraph pole at disused brickworks near Falkirk.

Rescuers from World of Wings were able to coax the bird down with a dead chick, and managed to get it into the back of a van.

World of Wings director David Ritchie said Gandalf had lost weight and appeared not to have slept, but was now recovering from her adventures back in her aviary in Cumbernauld.

Mr Ritchie said: "I got a phone call from a member of the public, who works as a vet.

"She said she had spent time in Africa and was 99 per cent certain she was looking at a Ruppell's griffon vulture. It could only be Gandalf.

"She said it was sitting on a telegraph pole at the old brickworks at Easter Jawcraig, two miles north of Slamannan, near Falkirk.

"We went out and there she was. I think she's been hiding there.

"I ran in to a field opposite and threw her a dead chick to eat. She was obviously hungry and came down for it.

"We wrapped her in a big duvet and got her back to our van. I checked her for obvious damage, but she's in OK condition.

"She's lost about a pound in weight, which is a lot for a 14lb bird, but it's clear she hasn't been eating.

"She looks like she hasn't slept a lot as she must have been wary of her new outdoor environment. But she's back in her aviary now."

Several possible sightings all over Britain had turned out to be herons, and as time passed they grew concerned cumbersome Gandalf might turn to road kill for a meal - and become road kill herself.

The attraction, along with the Scottish Wool Centre in Aberfoyle, Perthshire, part of the Edinburgh Woollen Mill group, put up a 500 reward for information leading to Gandalf's safe return.

Mr Ritchie said: "The woman who found Gandalf will get the reward, but I want to thank the hundreds of people who have contacted us to wish us luck finding her, and kept a look-out for her since she went missing.

"It was getting to the stage that we didn't think we'd see her again. These birds can soar higher than any other in the world, and have recorded heights of over 36,000 feet. They can also fly great distances, but I was always hopeful she's stayed in central Scotland."

Gandalf was brought to Scotland from Africa in 2006, to be part of a breeding programme, and let loose to fly every day to show vultures "in their full glory".

The Civil Aviation Authority and National Air Traffic Services warned pilots taking off and landing at Scottish airports to be on the lookout for the vulture, but pilots have now been told the bird has been found.