Vulture Conservation in Africa

Southern Africa’s vulture populations are in serious decline. Of the five Savannah species found in Zululand, all are classified as either endangered or critically endangered. Current trends suggest that all breeding pairs of Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures will be locally extinct by 2020... These birds are literally teetering on the edge of extinction.

Major Threats

Vultures throughout southern Africa are specifically targeted for traditional medicinal purposes in the “muthi" trade as well as for meat. Poachers catch vultures by poisoning animal carcasses, which can wipe out huge numbers at once. There has been a 70% decline of breeding pairs since 2004 as a result.

Many cultures also have superstitions about vultures, such as the birds being harbingers of death, or mistaken beliefs that vultures are a threat to healthy livestock, and in many areas vultures are still illegally hunted or driven away from food sources. Accidental poisoning is another issue, as some medicinal drugs used to treat livestock are fatally toxic to vultures. The birds may also be poached as trophies or for illegal feather trading. In addition, due to their wide wingspans, vultures are susceptible to being electrocuted by power lines.

Campaign Project Goals

Wildlife ACT is working with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Endangered Wildlife Trust to conduct an annual Vulture Tagging Project in Zululand, focusing on the three tree-nesting vulture species found in KwaZulu-Natal, namely: the African White-backed Vulture, Lappet-faced Vulture and White-headed Vulture. The project includes taking DNA samples, wing-tagging and fitting GPS units to vultures to help understand flight paths, foraging areas, roosting spots and survival rates, and facilitates ongoing monitoring of vulture performance to better secure and protect the areas that these birds utilize.

Educating and creating awareness among local farmers and communities living near protected areas, as well as the wider public, also forms a huge part of this work.
Information about the extent of traditional use of vulture parts is sorely lacking, so research and investigations are required to help inform and implement demand reduction campaigns.