Latest news with #vultures
Al Arabiya
15-07-2025
- Science
- Al Arabiya
Conservationists Release Rehabilitated Vultures Back Into The Wild On South African Mountain
Five vultures rescued and rehabilitated by a conservation group have been released back into the wild on a mountain range in South Africa. Two of the Cape Vultures were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade where the bird's body parts are sought after for potions and charms. One of them had all its feathers removed, and the Vulpro vulture conservation group looked after it for nearly a year while they grew back. Two of the other vultures were injured in the wild. One was saved after it landed in a dam and became waterlogged and was unable to fly, conservationists said. The birds were set free on the Magaliesburg Mountains in northern South Africa, where there is an existing vulture colony. Vultures generally are not well-loved because of their appearance and because they feed entirely on carrion–or dead animal carcasses–and are often associated with death. But conservationists say these scavengers are critical for cleaning up ecosystems and preventing animal and human disease outbreaks. Because of their eating habits, vultures are also susceptible to mass poisoning when poachers target other animals, and they can die in their hundreds from a poisoned carcass. Six of Africa's other native vulture species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The Cape Vulture was removed from the endangered list in 2021 after successful conservation efforts but is still classified as vulnerable. The vulture release was organized by Vulpro and the Humane World for Animals organization.
Washington Post
15-07-2025
- General
- Washington Post
Conservationists release rehabilitated vultures back into the wild on South African mountain
MAGALIESBURG, South Africa — Five vultures that were rescued and rehabilitated by a conservation group have been released back into the wild on a mountain range in South Africa. Two of the Cape Vultures were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, where the birds' body parts are sought after for potions and charms. One of them had all its feathers removed and the Vulpro vulture conservation group looked after it for nearly a year while they grew back. Two of the other vultures were injured in the wild. One was saved after it landed in a dam and became waterlogged and was unable to fly, conservationists said. The birds were set free on the Magaliesburg Mountains in northern South Africa, where there is an existing vulture colony. Vultures generally aren't well-loved because of their appearance and because they feed entirely on carrion — or dead animal carcasses — and are often associated with death. But conservationists say these scavengers are critical for cleaning up ecosystems and preventing animal and human disease outbreaks. Because of their eating habits, vultures are also susceptible to mass poisoning when poachers target other animals, and they can die in their hundreds from a poisoned carcass. Six of Africa's other native vulture species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The Cape Vulture was removed from the endangered list in 2021 after successful conservation efforts but is still classified as vulnerable. The vulture release was organized by Vulpro and the Humane World for Animals organization. ___ AP Africa news:
The Independent
15-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Conservationists release rehabilitated vultures back into the wild on South African mountain
Five vultures that were rescued and rehabilitated by a conservation group have been released back into the wild on a mountain range in South Africa. Two of the Cape Vultures were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, where the birds' body parts are sought after for potions and charms. One of them had all its feathers removed and the Vulpro vulture conservation group looked after it for nearly a year while they grew back. Two of the other vultures were injured in the wild. One was saved after it landed in a dam and became waterlogged and was unable to fly, conservationists said. The birds were set free on the Magaliesburg Mountains in northern South Africa, where there is an existing vulture colony. Vultures generally aren't well-loved because of their appearance and because they feed entirely on carrion — or dead animal carcasses — and are often associated with death. But conservationists say these scavengers are critical for cleaning up ecosystems and preventing animal and human disease outbreaks. Because of their eating habits, vultures are also susceptible to mass poisoning when poachers target other animals, and they can die in their hundreds from a poisoned carcass. Six of Africa's other native vulture species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The Cape Vulture was removed from the endangered list in 2021 after successful conservation efforts but is still classified as vulnerable. The vulture release was organized by Vulpro and the Humane World for Animals organization. ___
Associated Press
15-07-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Conservationists release rehabilitated vultures back into the wild on South African mountain
MAGALIESBURG, South Africa (AP) — Five vultures that were rescued and rehabilitated by a conservation group have been released back into the wild on a mountain range in South Africa. Two of the Cape Vultures were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, where the birds' body parts are sought after for potions and charms. One of them had all its feathers removed and the Vulpro vulture conservation group looked after it for nearly a year while they grew back. Two of the other vultures were injured in the wild. One was saved after it landed in a dam and became waterlogged and was unable to fly, conservationists said. The birds were set free on the Magaliesburg Mountains in northern South Africa, where there is an existing vulture colony. Vultures generally aren't well-loved because of their appearance and because they feed entirely on carrion — or dead animal carcasses — and are often associated with death. But conservationists say these scavengers are critical for cleaning up ecosystems and preventing animal and human disease outbreaks. Because of their eating habits, vultures are also susceptible to mass poisoning when poachers target other animals, and they can die in their hundreds from a poisoned carcass. Six of Africa's other native vulture species are listed as endangered or critically endangered. The Cape Vulture was removed from the endangered list in 2021 after successful conservation efforts but is still classified as vulnerable. The vulture release was organized by Vulpro and the Humane World for Animals organization. ___ AP Africa news:
News24
03-07-2025
- Health
- News24
A threat to vultures is a threat to people: Inside Kruger's vulture poisoning crisis
Supplied Kruger National Park officials have raised the alarm over a mass poisoning that killed over 120 vultures, calling it one of the worst in recent years and warning it could push the endangered species towards extinction. Rescue teams managed to save 81 vultures through an unprecedented joint operation. Experts warn that the poison used – an organophosphate so lethal it's nicknamed 'two-step' – poses severe risks to humans, pets and water systems, with even trace exposure potentially fatal. In the heart of the Kruger National Park, conservationists are racing against time to protect one of the most critically endangered species on the continent – the vulture. A mass poisoning incident early in May, in the Mahlangeni section of the park, left more than 120 vultures dead and reignited concerns over escalating threats to biodiversity, public health and the safety of South Africa's most iconic national park. Kruger Park rangers, working in partnership with wildlife NGOs and rehabilitation experts, mounted what they described as one of the largest vulture rescue operations in history, saving 84 poisoned birds, 81 of which were successfully rehabilitated and released. But the victory is bittersweet. Acting swiftly may have saved a few dozen, but dozens more died, and the long-term implications remain grim. 'It was a collaborative effort and quite an incredible effort,' said Mahlangeni section ranger Andrew Desmet. We lost over 120 vultures, but we saved 84. It was only due to the collaborative effort that we were able to respond quickly. Andrew Desmet The poisoning scene City Press recently visited the site near Mahlangeni where the poisoned vultures had been discovered – a grim, desolate space still reeking of decay. The area is located over 3km from the closest patrol base, deep within the bush. The scene is seared into Desmet's memory. 'You can just imagine ... vultures dead; others half-dead, flapping around. The vulture doesn't think you're there to save it; it thinks you're there to kill it,' he said. 'They bite you; they run from you. Once you catch one, you can't let it go. And we were 3km from help.' The poisoned carcass – an elephant – had been butchered for meat. Its remains were laced with highly toxic organophosphates, known among rangers as 'two-step' poisons. They call some of these poisons 'two-step' because it's so toxic. If you get a little bit in you, you literally take two steps and you're dead. Andrew Desmet Lunga Simelane This was not just a targeted attack on vultures. Desmet explained that poisoning kills indiscriminately: predators, scavengers and even humans who may unknowingly consume or touch contaminated meat or water. 'If you poison a carcass, you don't only kill vultures; you kill any scavenger or predator that comes and feeds. Humans who come into contact with that meat can die. The poison can wash into water systems,' he warned. READ: Vultures just years away from extinction in Kruger park Technology and rapid response The incident might have gone unnoticed if not for tracking technology. A few vultures in the region carry satellite-linked GPS 'backpacks' – expensive but vital tools for monitoring bird movements. 'You can't track every vulture. But vultures congregate. If you see three birds with tracking units, there are probably 100 birds there,' said Desmet. The alert came late at night, around 9pm, when one of the GPS units registered a mortality signal. Desmet and his team launched into emergency response mode, coordinating aerial patrols and ground teams. He was airborne by dawn, flying a light aircraft over the area. 'I could see the elephant carcass, and I could see many dead vultures. But more urgently, I saw about 50 vultures flopping around – still alive but clearly poisoned,' he said. Helicopters were deployed to extract birds, and one of the most critical allies arrived on the scene: the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, led by Nikita Rapo. 'As we arrived, we started with the treatment,' said Rapo. The first step is an injection of atropine. Then we milk the crop to remove the poisoned meat, administer activated charcoal and then give fluids every two hours to flush the poison. Nikita Rapo Out of the 84 vultures taken to the centre, only three died. One succumbed during transportation, another had a broken pelvis, and a third suffered from aspiration complications. The remaining 81 were rehabilitated and released after two weeks. 'The poison slows the heart, shuts the body down' Leah Brown, a veterinary nurse with Wildscapes Veterinary Services, who assisted with the recovery operation, explained the critical role of atropine in treating poisoned vultures – and how deadly the toxins are to any organism exposed. 'What the poison actually does to the body is that it slows the heart rate down to a point where the animal can no longer circulate its own blood,' said Brown. 'If your heart fails, you won't survive, so the medicine Nikita mentioned – atropine – is crucial. It works to elevate the heart rate and keep the circulatory system going so that we can at least try to treat everything else that's happening. As long as the cardiovascular system is working, then we can try to work on whatever else is going on.' Brown warned that these organophosphate toxins are so potent that even trace exposure poses a serious health risk to humans and animals. We will suffer the same effects, so we shouldn't ingest these toxins either because they're going to have similar effects on our neurosystem. Leah Brown 'You don't wear your shoes inside the house; you need to clean them thoroughly. Any little trace of these toxins – they're so potent. You walk it through your house, and your dog accidentally licks the floor – that's all it takes.' Field teams wore gloves at all times, though handling struggling birds with sharp beaks often damaged their protective equipment. 'We tried our best just to keep our hands covered as much as possible ... and to not touch any contaminated meat at all. We kept the regurgitated food in a bucket, and that bucket gets burnt with the fire.' A deeper environmental threat For Kruger, the stakes go beyond a single event. 'We're very, very concerned about the Kruger park and our vulture population,' Desmet said. 'It's nesting time now, and with these poisonings, you're wiping out generations of vultures.' Vultures are known as nature's undertakers. Their role in the ecosystem is vital – they consume rotting carcasses that would otherwise spread disease and contaminate water sources. 'Without them, you would get carcasses just rotting slowly in the veld. That would spread disease and have a negative impact on the environment,' Desmet said. While rhino poaching garners widespread attention, vulture poisonings are becoming just as alarming. Desmet noted that, while rhinos are listed as vulnerable or endangered, 'vultures are currently classified as endangered'. Understaffed and overwhelmed Part of the challenge is scale. The Mahlangeni section alone spans over 100 000 hectares, with more than 40km of boundary fence. Despite this, it is typically patrolled by just eight field rangers – often fewer due to sick leave or rotation. 'You divide them into twos for safety, which means only four patrols covering this vast area. It's almost an impossible task,' Desmet said. Kruger's strategy has shifted towards community engagement, building trust and cooperation with people living adjacent to the park. 'We don't protect the park for ourselves. Our job is to protect it for you – the public, your children and your children's children,' Desmet said. 'But we need the communities to work with us.' Meat, not ivory Unlike many poaching incidents targeting elephants for their tusks, this case was about meat. 'The main thing these poachers were after was meat,' Desmet confirmed. 'They harvested meat from the elephant and, when they finished, they laced the carcass with poison.' This trend of commercial bushmeat trade using poison is growing, and it threatens not only wildlife but also community health and regional stability. What now? While the rescue operation stands as a model of rapid coordination, Desmet acknowledges that the tools are reactive, responding only after the damage begins. The ultimate goal must be prevention. 'Ideally, we want to get to a situation where we could stop the poisoning altogether,' Desmet said. 'That's where we actually need to be.'
