Scavaning Kleptoparasites

The Condor is a jackass.

A recent study, Nuisance Ecology: Do Condors Exact Foraging Costs from Pumas in Patagonia? by Mark Elbroch and Heiko Wittmer determines that the big cats might not be as tough as their airborne competitors. The condors are scavanging kleptoparasites…which means they only hunt prey that has already been wounded or taken by another predator.

In Patagonia this predator happens to be the puma. These large cats take down prey in the open highland plains where their normal prey, the guanaco feeds in the grasslands where the puma must hunt them. Out in the open, they stalk, attack and kill the small beast but then must suffer the slings of outrageous fortune before they get it back into the jungles to eat. For the condors swoop in and begin harassing the puma until it gives up its prey. Then the giant birds eat.

It seems the puma's lose just shy of half their dinner this way.

Interestingly the condor also defends itself with a breath weapon…vomiting the mangled remains of its meal upon anyone who threatens it, the stench is so foul it can knock you down. We wonder if this is how the puma is forced off its kill.

Condors. Endangered Jackasses.

This pic from Yoram Shplrer, its not a puma obviously, but perhaps jackasery in action