Sudan: Israeli 'spy vulture' nabbed during reconnaissance missionBy Nick Thompson and Nima Elbagir, CNNDecember 11, 2012 -- Updated 1913 GMT (0313 HKT)

Sudanese officials say a GPS-tagged vulture captured in the western part of the country was transmitting photos back to Israel. HIDE CAPTIONSudan: Israel using 'spy vultures'

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Sudan: Israeli vulture with GPS-equipped camera caught by officials in western Sudan

Israeli scientists say a number of vultures tagged with GPS to study migration routes

Expert: GPS tracking of this sort used in hundreds of studies around the world

Griffon vultures are an endangered species in the Middle East, Hatzofe says

This is the GPS tracking device (left) that would have been found on the downed vulture in Sudan, according

to Hebrew University professor Ran Nathan

A file photo of a vulture tagged by researchers at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In October, two PhD students tagged more than 100 young vultures -- 25 with GPS tracking -- in an effort to study their behavior and movement.