Endangered vultures in SA poisoned

The decline of vulture populations nationally and globally is reaching critical proportions.

According to an international team of researchers, African vultures are likely to qualify as “critically endangered” under the global threat criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

Andre Botha, manager of birds of prey at the Endangered Wildlife Trust, said the decline of African vultures was a disaster because of their immense ecological importance. “Vultures are a vital component of a healthy environment, especially in Africa, where ‘free’ ecosystem services such as dis- posal of carcasses and other waste products remain the norm.”

In the past two months, colonies of vultures have been poisoned in various places.

According to Botha, poisoning was responsible for 61% of the birds’ fatalities. The death toll recently was nearly 80 and only two white-backed vultures survived.

“The origin of the poisoning seems to be multifaceted and either primary or secondary,” said Gerhard Verdoorn of the Griffon Poison Information Centre.

A primary poisoning method was farmers using chemicals to protect crops and small farm animals from vultures.

A secondary case of poisoning was other scavengers that have been poisoned and then eaten by vultures.

Data showed Africa’s vultures have declined at rates of between 70% and 97% over three generations. – Caxton News Service

Vultures are vital component of a healthy environment Andre Botha Manager of birds of prey at the Endangered Wildlife Trust