Vultures at Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve - in pictures

  • Lappet-faced vultures congregate at a waterhole in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Photo: DDCR
    Lappet-faced vultures congregate at a waterhole in Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve. Photo: DDCR
  • A lappet-faced vulture stands over the carcass of an Arabian oryx. The bird has a wingspan of almost three metres. Photo: DDCR
    A lappet-faced vulture stands over the carcass of an Arabian oryx. The bird has a wingspan of almost three metres. Photo: DDCR
  • A lappet-faced vulture investigates a remote camera at a DDCR waterhole. Photo: DDCR
    A lappet-faced vulture investigates a remote camera at a DDCR waterhole. Photo: DDCR
  • A cinereous vulture with lappet-faced vultures at a waterhole. Mystery surrounds where many of the birds come from. Photo: DDCR
    A cinereous vulture with lappet-faced vultures at a waterhole. Mystery surrounds where many of the birds come from. Photo: DDCR
  • Vultures gather at the reserve's waterholes to drink, bathe and bask. Photo: DDCR
    Vultures gather at the reserve's waterholes to drink, bathe and bask. Photo: DDCR
  • DDCR conservation officer Basil Roy checks a remote camera next to a waterhole. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    DDCR conservation officer Basil Roy checks a remote camera next to a waterhole. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • Remote cameras are a vital tool for the reserve's conservationists in their quest to discover more about their enigmatic visitors. Chris Whiteoak / The National
    Remote cameras are a vital tool for the reserve's conservationists in their quest to discover more about their enigmatic visitors. Chris Whiteoak / The National
  • The cage constructed at the reserve in a project to capture and fit GPS tracking devices to lappet-faced vultures. Photo: DDCR
    The cage constructed at the reserve in a project to capture and fit GPS tracking devices to lappet-faced vultures. Photo: DDCR
  • A lappet-faced vulture feeds on a carcass at the reserve. Photo: DDCR
    A lappet-faced vulture feeds on a carcass at the reserve. Photo: DDCR
  • A much smaller Egyptian vulture joins lappet-faced vultures picking at the remnants of an oryx carcass. Photo: DDCR
    A much smaller Egyptian vulture joins lappet-faced vultures picking at the remnants of an oryx carcass. Photo: DDCR
  • When installed in December 2023, the wary birds would come no closer than 60 metres from the cage. Now they approach to within five metres. Photo: DDCR
    When installed in December 2023, the wary birds would come no closer than 60 metres from the cage. Now they approach to within five metres. Photo: DDCR