Threats to Vultures & Vulture Conservation

[Sprocky]

2012-09-05 11:07
Poachers poison 183 vultures

Johannesburg - Poachers in Zimbabwe recently poisoned 183 vultures in a single event, in an attempt to cover their tracks, the Beeld reported on Wednesday.

The vultures died after the poachers killed an elephant and smeared poison on the carcass in Zimbabwe's Gona re Zhou National Park.

Andre Botha, a spokesperson for the Endangered Wildlife Trust, told the newspaper on Tuesday that poisoned vultures could end up breeding in the Kruger Park.

Botha said the disturbing new poisoning trend had originated in East Africa, where poaching had spiralled out of control.

The poachers poison vultures because they alert nature conservation authorities to the presence of a fresh carcass, and therefore the whereabouts of the criminals.

Botha warned that it was only a matter of time before the trend filtered across the South African border.

He said he had heard about the incident in the Gona re Zhou National Park from Professor Peter Mundy of the University of Bulawayo.


- SAPA

[nan]

[Richprins]

This is bad!

[Flutterby]

[JoeKing]

Really, this is getting pathetic

[Bushcraft]

[JoeKing]

these &%@$ will destroy everything.

[Toko]

Vultures foraging far and wide face a poisonous future
(31 January 2013)

African vultures face an increasing risk of fatal poisoning, according to Durham University research.

A first ever study of the range and habits of white-backed vultures across southern Africa shows that they often shun national parks, preferring to forage further afield on private farmland.

This behaviour and their tendency to scavenge in groups, means that vultures risk encountering dead cattle that have been administered veterinary drugs that are poisonous to them, or even poisoned carcasses intended to control other carnivores such as jackals.

The research, using Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite transmitters to track the movements of adolescent vultures, is published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The white-backed vulture is a widespread but declining species in Africa and it is now listed as endangered. In India, several vulture species are on the verge of extinction due to accidental poisoning from cattle carcasses that contain anti-inflammatory drugs administered by farmers. These drugs are non-lethal to cattle yet fatal to vultures. There is a concern that these drugs could become more widely used in Africa.

Vultures prefer to feed in savannah grassland habitats and away from other competing carnivores, such as lions, and the new study shows that the birds will go to considerable lengths to find food, crossing multiple state boundaries, with each bird on average ranging across an area twice the size of England.

Co-lead author, Dr Stephen Willis, School of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, said: “We found that young vultures travel much further than we ever imagined to find food, sometimes moving more than 220 kilometres a day. Individuals moved through up to five countries over a period of 200 days, emphasising the need for conservation collaboration among countries to protect this species.”

“In South Africa, the vultures avoided the national parks that have been established to conserve wildlife. As a result, these parks are unlikely to protect such a wide-ranging species against threats in the wider landscape.

“The vultures may actively avoid parks with numerous large mammal predators due to competition for food, and find easier pickings on cattle carcasses in farmland outside these protected areas.

“We found evidence that individual birds were attracted to ‘vulture restaurants’ where carrion is regularly put out as an extra source of food for vultures and where tourists can see the birds up close. As a result, these individuals reduced their ranging behaviour. Such ‘restaurants’ could be used in future to attract vultures to areas away from sites where they are at high risk of poisoning.”

The team tracked six immature African white-backed vultures (Gyps africanus): five for 200 days, and one for 101 days) across southern Africa using GPS tracking units which were carefully strapped to the birds’ backs.

Kerri Wolter, Chief Executive Officer, Vulture Programme (VulPro) said: “Vultures are facing significant threats globally with poisoning being one of the major threats in various forms, such as exposure to veterinary drugs and the irresponsible use of poisons.

“In the past, we believed that protecting nature reserves and conservancies was the way to go but tracking devices show that vultures are spending very little time in protected areas, and this makes conserving these birds much more difficult. Given the distances that vultures forage, we cannot conserve these birds 'in-country' but have to work together with conservation organisations, governments and neighbouring countries to safeguard vulture species across the globe.”

Co-lead author, Louis Phipps, who recently graduated from the University of Pretoria, said: “Modern farming practices mean that vultures face an increasing risk of fatal poisoning. The provision of an uncontaminated supply of food, research into veterinary practices, and education for farmers could all be part of a future solution, if vulture numbers continue to plummet.”

The work was funded by a Leverhulme Trust studentship to Louis Phipps. The research team included researchers from Durham University UK, University of Pretoria, South Africa and the Vulture Programme, North West Province, South Africa, with support from Mankwe Wildlife Reserve, South Africa.

Kerri Wolter, Chief Executive Officer, Vulture Programme (VulPro) added: "VulPro approaches vulture conservation in an integrated, multidisciplinary fashion, with the benefits from the programme accruing to both vultures and society at large. VulPro combines education and good science, with networking, capacity building and knowledge generation. The veterinary disciplines of toxicology, pharmacology, clinical pathology and medicine are combined with the science of cell-phone telemetry and the banking of genetic resources, with the goal being to positively influence the well-being of our natural resources to the ultimate benefit of society. In this regard, VulPro engages in a number of interrelated activities, and uses a variety of resources, in endeavouring to meet its objectives."

Vulture facts:

1. The vulture family includes the Californian and Andean Condors.

2. A group of feeding vultures is called a wake.

3. Vultures are found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.

4. A particular characteristic of many vultures is a bald head, devoid of normal feathers. This helps to keep the head clean when feeding.

(Source 1-4: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulture)

5. Three species of south Asia's vultures are critically threatened with extinction: the Oriental white-backed, the long-billed and the slender-billed vulture - have declined by more than 97% since the early 1990s (source: RSPB).

6. Vultures play an important role in Tibetan ‘Sky burials’ where a dead body is prepared and then exposed on a slab of rock for vultures and other scavengers to eat.

[Toko]

Wind farm in Lesotho could cause the local extinction of vultures

Published by surfbirds on February 2, 2013 courtesy of BirdLife International

BirdLife South Africa and BirdLife International are very concerned that the proposed development of a wind farm at Letseng in Lesotho could have severe impacts on the already declining populations of Cape Vultures and Lammergeiers. South Africa and Lesotho share the responsibility of safeguarding the populations of Lammergeiers and Cape Vultures in the Lesotho Highlands and the surrounding escarpment of South Africa.

PowerNET Developments (Pty) Ltd propose to erect 42 wind turbines (each with a capacity of 850 kW) near Letšeng-La-Terae, on the north-eastern escarpment of the Drakensberg. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the proposed Letseng Wind Farm is in its final stages of completion. The avifaunal specialist report, compiled by well-respected ornithologist Dr Andrew Jenkins, indicates that even with mitigation, the anticipated impacts of the project on highly unique and sensitive avifauna will be of high to very high negative significance, rendering the project unsustainable.

While wind energy is fairly new to southern Africa, poorly located wind turbines elsewhere in the world have had significant impacts on bird populations. Impacts include loss of habitat, disturbance and mortality through collisions with the turbine blades. In Smøla, Norway, for example, a poorly sited wind farm caused the number of White-tailed Eagles (also known as Sea Eagles) within the site development and a 500m buffer around it to decline from 13 pairs to five.

Such devastating impacts have not occurred at all wind farms. “The considered location of wind farms is the key to ensuring that impacts on birds are kept to a minimum”, says Samantha Ralston, Birds and Renewable Energy Manager for BirdLife South Africa. Among other things, turbines should be kept well away from areas frequently used by collision-prone birds such as large-bodied raptors.

Collision-prone vultures cannot observe political boundaries

Vultures play an important ecological, economic, cultural and aesthetic role. They are scavengers and by disposing of waste and carcasses they help control populations of other disease-carrying scavengers and pests. In this way they help protect human health, as well as that of domesticated animals and wildlife.

Unfortunately, vultures appear to be particularly prone to colliding with the turbine blades. High collision rates have been observed in Griffon Vultures at wind farms in Europe, most notably in Tarifa, Spain. The Griffon Vulture is a close relative of the Cape Vulture. A recent study in Tarifa, Spain, estimated that 0.22 vulture deaths occurred per turbine per year. This was reduced by approximately half with the introduction of mitigation, but even with mitigation one can expect that for every 10 turbines at least one vulture will be killed every year.

The proposed Letseng wind farm is located in habitat that is critical for both Lammergeier and Cape Vulture, both threatened species. Lammergeier is listed as regionally Endangered and Cape Vulture as Vulnerable in South Africa. Birds do not observe political boundaries and the populations of both species span South Africa and Lesotho. A further decline of birds in Lesotho, will severely impact the viability and survival rates of the vultures in South Africa. Using population models, scientists have demonstrated that even a small increase in adult mortality could cause the rapid decline and even local extinction of these long-lived, slow-breeding birds. “BirdLife South Africa has learnt from its partners in Europe and North America that incorrectly located wind farms can cause massive mortalities of vultures and eagles”, says Mark Anderson, CEO of BirdLife South Africa. “For this reason, we will strongly oppose any wind farm developments which we believe will result in significant impacts on Lammergeier, Cape Vulture and other threatened South African birds”, he added.

Responsible sustainable development must be consultative

BirdLife South Africa fully recognises the need to move towards generating clean energy and supports the responsible development of a renewable energy infrastructure in southern Africa. BirdLife South Africa therefore encourages wind farm developers to work with them to help identify suitable sites for wind energy to minimise the impact on birds and the environment while delivering lasting sustainable development. For example, prior to siting a wind farm, a Strategic Environmental Assessment should be undertaken as this enables avoidance of areas that are known to be environmentally sensitive.

Dr Julius Arinaitwe, BirdLife International’s Regional Director for Africa says development is vital, but must progress in an environmentally sensitive manner. “Development is underpinned by healthy ecosystems and the biodiversity therein. The choices we make now must not negatively affect Africa’s ability to develop in future”, he said.

BirdLife South Africa and BirdLife International are calling on PowerNET Developments (Pty) Ltd to voluntarily withdraw the EIA application. BirdLife South Africa is also encouraging the public and partners to comment on the EIA report. Further information can be obtained from Samantha Ralston (at energy@birdlife.org.za or 083-6733948).

[Richprins]

More vultures die in mass poisoning

July 30 2013 at 03:30pm
By Tony Carnie


Durban - Another seven vultures have died close to the scene of the recent mass poisoning of nearly 50 others on a farm associated with the family of businessman and farmer Gary Porritt in the Swartberg district of East Griqualand.

Wildlife officials confirmed that a neighbouring farmer found the latest casualties on his property and reported the deaths to bird conservation groups on Monday.

Cobus Theron, of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s African Crane Conservation programme, said he suspected the latest deaths could be linked to those of 48 Cape Vultures and a White-Backed Vulture which were found on New Hope farm near Swartberg two weeks ago.



It is believed the birds may have died after eating a lamb carcass poisoned with carbofuran, an agricultural chemical powder used to kill jackals.

The police confirmed that they were investigating several charges, but had not made any arrests. Police spokesperson Vincent Mdunge said the farm where the birds were found appeared to be owned by a trust.

However, it is understood that the farm is linked to a trust associated with Porritt.

Porritt could not be reached for comment.

His son, Murray, who was present on New Hope Farm when Ezemvelo and bird conservation officials collected the carcasses on July 16, declined to comment about the incident.

Joburg attorney Frank Cohen, who acts on behalf of the Porritts and the Snowdon Farm Trust which owns several farms in the Swartberg area, told The Mercury that he only became aware of the mass vulture poisoning.

“I have spoken to Gary’s two sons to try and find out more details, but I’m not in a position to add very much at the moment. I haven’t been able to speak to Gary because they are in the middle of the maize harvest at the moment.

“But this is a very sad and serious matter. It is something that will have to be investigated properly. This is a tragedy and every co-operation will be given.

“We would like to make sure nothing like this can happen again.”

Cohen said the farm did not belong to the Snowdon Farm Trust, but he thought it was owned by the New Hope Trust.

Bad name

When asked who owned New Hope farm and who could comment on the poisoning, Murray Porritt said: “I’m not sure who can comment on this. We are doing an investigation at the moment and I don’t think the trust wants to make a comment at the moment.

“I’m not really the person to speak to about this and I’m not sure who can give you more information. I really just deal with the crops on the farms (not the livestock).”

Porritt jr said he was not aware that any charges had been laid against the farm managers or other parties.



Brian Aitken, president of the Kwanalu farming union, said the deliberate or accidental poisoning of wildlife was “totally unacceptable”.

“Incidents like this make us very angry because it gives farmers a bad name and our association does not want to be associated with this kind of behaviour.”

Theron, of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, said: “This event has cast a shadow over efforts that have been initiated in the district with farmers interested in conservation practices and land stewardship. Many of them are furious that this has taken place”

Conservationist Gerhard Verdoorn of the Griffon poison information centre said he expected many more vultures had died after flying back to their roosts and nesting sites.



He said the Cape Vulture was a globally threatened species and he called for the “harshest possible penalties” for those found to be responsible for the poisoning. - The Mercury



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