Griffon Vultures can soar at up to 11,000 metres (36,100 ft) above sea level.

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Saudi Arabian officials have "detained" a vulture on suspicions of being an Israeli spy, the BBC reported. The vulture was captured after it landed in the desert city of Hail a few days ago. When locals discovered it carried a GPS transmitter bearing the name of Tel Aviv University, they handed it over to the security forces. Conspiracy theories are circulating in Saudi newspapers and websites that the bird was involved in espionage. Israeli wildlife officials dismissed the claims as ludicrous. "The device does nothing more than receive and store basic data about the bird's whereabouts, and about his altitude and speed," a bird specialist at Israel's Park and Nature Authority said. The expert said: "Now, this poor bird is paying a terrible price. That's very sad. I hope they release the poor thing." （点击BBC网站查看原文）

沙特“扣留”间谍秃鹰

       据英国广播公司报道，沙特阿拉伯官员们怀疑一只秃鹰为以色列充当间谍，将其“扣留”。这只秃鹰于数天前落在沙漠城市哈伊勒后被捕获。当地人发现它携带印有特拉维夫大学名称的全球定位系统发射器，遂将它转交给安全部门。阴谋论调很快开始在沙特的报纸和网站上传播开来，称这只鸟为间谍工具。以色列野生动物官员称这种说法很荒唐。以色列公园与自然署的一名鸟类专家表示：“那个设备只是用来接收和存储关于鸟的方位、高度和速度的基本数据而已，别无他用。”这名专家还说：“现在，这只可怜的鸟儿正在付出惨痛的代价。这很令人悲哀。我希望他们能释放这只可怜的家伙。”