Two endangered Egyptian Vultures have landed in the Eastern Cape after a 16,600km journey, marking a pivotal step in a groundbreaking conservation effort to bring this species back from extinction in South Africa.
Eastern Cape, South Africa (19 November 2024) – In a groundbreaking step for African wildlife conservation, a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures has completed an epic 16,600-kilometre journey from San Diego to their new home in the Eastern Cape.
This marks the culmination of an extraordinary relocation effort and the beginning of an ambitious breeding programme aimed at restoring this critically endangered species to its native habitat.
The pair, now safely housed at the VulPro@Shamwari facility within the stunning Shamwari Game Reserve, symbolises hope for vulture conservation on the continent. The purpose-built rehabilitation, breeding, and research centre will play a pivotal role in ensuring these iconic birds, extinct in South Africa for nearly a century, have a chance to soar over the country once more.
African vultures are in crisis. Once common, species like the Egyptian Vulture have seen their populations plummet by over 90% in the last 30 years due to poisoning, electrocution, and poaching. But these birds are vital to ecosystems, acting as nature’s clean-up crew, preventing disease by consuming carrion. Their decline is catastrophic for biodiversity. And the arrival of these two Egyptian Vultures is a small but significant victory in reversing that trend.
The new breeding programme at Shamwari aims to bolster captive populations and, eventually, reintroduce their offspring into the wild. VulPro CEO Kerri Wolter is optimistic, “The two are getting on very well. They feed and roost together, which is a good sign for eventual pairing when the young female reaches maturity.”
The milestone is a true collaboration of conservationists, sponsors, and supporters. Transporting the birds was a monumental task, requiring bespoke crates, security, and constant monitoring to ensure their well-being. It was a collective effort supported by organisations like DHL, Chery SA, WeWild Africa, and others who helped with logistics, funding, and infrastructure.
“The Egyptian Vultures are another milestone in this programme, which is as important as any other that has brought a species back from the brink of extinction. To see vultures flying over Shamwari again after so long is a triumph of resilience and dedication,” Joe Cloete, Shamwari’s CEO, highlighted the significance of this achievement.
This project isn’t just about Egyptian Vultures. Alongside them, several other species have joined the conservation initiative, including Cape Vultures, Lappet-faced Vultures, White-headed Vultures, and African White-backed Vultures. While some birds will stay as part of breeding programmes, their offspring will eventually be released into the wild to strengthen dwindling populations. Cape Vulture chicks, for example, will take to the skies over Shamwari, while tree-nesting species will head to other release sites identified as critical by the National Vulture Breeding Steering Committee. This multifaceted approach ensures that conservation efforts are tailored to the needs of each species, giving them the best chance of survival.
As vultures begin to once again grace the skies over Shamwari, this moment serves as a reminder of what can be achieved when communities, organisations, and individuals come together with a shared vision. The return of these remarkable birds signals that even species on the brink of extinction can be given a fighting chance – and that’s something to cheer about!
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