The Wildlife ACT – Focused Conservation team recently tagged critically endangered vultures in a collaborative effort to boost their conservation in KZN.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa (12 June 2020) – Wildlife ACT in collaboration with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, White Elephant Safaris and Manyoni Private Game Reserve, recently tagged and fitted GPS transmitters to critically endangered vultures.
Throughout the lockdown, vital conservation work has continued. The group worked with vultures in the KwaZulu-Natal region as there has been a steep decline of numbers.
“The situation in KZN is no different, with numbers of African White-Backed, White-Headed and Lappet-Faced Vultures showing rapid decline. Through this programme, we aim to obtain a better understanding of these birds’ fine-scale habits to allow the implementation of informed conservation management decisions. In addition, it also helps us to identify poisoning events (a major threat to these populations) and respond swiftly to these, and other threats, with qualified personnel.” – Wildlife ACT – Focused Conservation
The team has been working since mid-May to catch and tag several vultures from the area. They focussed on working in the Pongola Game Reserve, Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park and Manyoni Private Game Reserve.
“Over this period a total of 12 African White-Backed, 1 Cape and 1 Lappet-Faced Vulture were successfully captured. These birds were tagged with patagial wing tags to allow for re-sightings by our teams and the public.
In addition, a number of these birds were fitted with very light GPS ‘backpack’ transmitters, specially designed to limit impact on the birds, while providing crucial long-term movement data. This information is then fed directly into the conservation strategy of the species, allowing us to prioritise conservation interventions effectively.”
The information from these vultures is vital to find ways to conserve their numbers. The incredible birds of prey play an integral role in the ecosystems where they are found. That is why it is essential to keep their population numbers up.
We spoke to Wildlife ACT Director Chris Kelly about their role and understanding how they benefit the environment as a whole.
‘Vultures play an extremely important role in the ecosystem, cleaning up carcasses in the field, recycling nutrients and reducing the spread of disease from such carcasses. This element of our work focuses on better understanding and learning from their fine-scale movements and habits to improve conservation measures, thus ensuring more effective protection of the species.’ Chris Kelly, Director – Species Conservation, Wildlife ACT
You can support their efforts here.
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