Conservationists at Vulpro, Africa's only vulture-focused conservation organisation are celebrating the sighting of 15 wild Cape Vultures on a farm just 40 kilometres outside Mountain Zebra National Park, in Spitskop Cradock this week. After not seeing vultures in this region for over 30 years, news of the sighting comes as a huge relief and is a testament to the incredible work Vulpro is doing to improve survival rates of vultures who have been poisoned and hunted to near extinction, with some species already ceasing to exist.
Since the 1980s, Cape Vulture numbers have been steadily declining. Between 1992 and 2007, populations in South Africa reduced by 60-70% and were first categorised as ‘threatened’. By 2021, the total population size was estimated at 9,600 to 12,800 mature individuals, which raised their status to ‘vulnerable’ showing their numbers were improving. However, vulture numbers overall are dramatically declining with some species experiencing reductions of up to 80 % in recent decades, leading to what is termed the ‘African Vulture Crisis’.Kerri Wolter, CEO and Founder of Vulpro says: “While we are starting to see some vultures return to historical roosting sites the rate of decline is still shocking and very worrying which is why we can’t stop our conservation efforts now. Sightings like this one near Graaff-Reinet shows that the work we are doing is making a difference which motivates us to keep working around the clock to curb further vulture species declines.”
Globally there are 23 vulture species, divided into two distinct families. Accipitridae (Old World vultures) with 16 species found across Africa, Europe, and Asia. Cathartidae (New World vultures) with seven species native to the Americas and the Caribbean. The 16 species of Old World vultures are spread across nine genera. Of these, nine species are either resident in Africa or migrate to and from the continent. Only three species — the White-headed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, and Cape Vulture — are exclusive to Africa with the Cape Vulture only resident to southern Africa alone.
In January of this year, Vulpro announced spotting wild vultures feeding on the remains of a carcass at the Shamwari Private Game Reserve for the first time, almost one year after Vulpro relocated their rehabilitation centre and captive breeding facility to the reserve. The vultures’ return to Shamwari and other regions of the Eastern Cape is a major step forward in their recovery, and underscores the importance of supplementing the wild Cape Vultures.
Vultures play a major role in the ecosystem and a world without them would have significant ecological and health implications. Disposing of carcasses quickly, they’re able to prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax, botulism, and rabies among wildlife and humans. Their absence would also lead to an increase in other scavengers, such as feral dogs and rats, which are less efficient at disposing of carcasses and can carry diseases harmful to humans and livestock.
Since 2007, Vulpro has provided specialised medical care to treat vultures with injuries, diseases, and poisoning achieving a 75% survival rate for treated birds. Once stabilised, they focus on restoring the vulture’s physical strength and natural behaviours, preparing it for a successful return to the wild. The team of conservationists and volunteers also focus on research, threat mitigation and education and awareness programmes to further protect vultures and prevent their extinction. Since 2013 Vulpro’s captive breeding programme, which focuses on non-releasable birds that can still produce offspring, has released over 78 captive-bred vultures into the wild contributing significantly to population recovery.
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“Vultures are nature’s misunderstood heroes, yet they face devastating population declines due to electrocutions and collisions with energy infrastructure, poisoning, trade in vultures for belief based purposes, habitat loss, and negative public perception. By recognising them as crucial ecological guardians we can re-write the story around vultures and inspire meaningful conservation.” Says Wolter.
For more information about Vulpro please visit www.vulpro.com or follow us on social media
Vulpro is a Section 18 organisation. Find out how to get involved with Vulpro, either with your time or resources or both, by contacting Kerri Wolter at kerri@vulpro.com or Tracy Karam at tracy@vulpro.com
