Known as Gyps fulvus by scientists, the Griffon Vulture is a species protected in France and Europe. This raptor, among the largest in the country, is easily recognizable by its ash brown plumage and its lighter, sometimes white, ruff. The scavenger bird feeds exclusively on the tenderest parts of the corpses of wild or domestic mammals. The Griffon Vulture has a life expectancy of 30 years, and couples form for life and live in colonies. The female only lays a maximum of one egg per year, making the Griffon Vulture one of the most endangered species in Europe. After its almost total disappearance due to poaching, reintroduction programs have been successfully implemented in France since the 1980s.