We are saddened and frustrated to report that another poisoning attack has taken place in southern Africa. 94 White-backed Vultures were poisoned after feeding from a poached elephant carcass that had been laced with poison. One vulture is currently being treated. At the moment, we do not have any more details but will add anything we find out when possible.

Please help us to keep our poison response activity going to help reduce the loss of these endangered birds from poisoning by supporting our work.

The Vulture Crisis

Africa’s vultures are facing many threats – the most significant being poisoning and the trade in vultures for witchcraft and fetish. But we are at the forefront of saving thousands of vultures from an unnecessary death. With project partners, we have developed specialist Poison Response Kits for urgent implementation in-situ to save these birds that are so vital to the food chain and eco-system in the region. Already they are making inroads into slowing down the loss of endangered vulture populations.

Facing extinction

A study published in December 2015 (the most recent and only data) revealed that since 2012, ivory poachers have increasingly killed elephants and laced the carcasses with poison deliberately to kill vultures, because the circling of vultures above an illegally poached carcass signals the poachers’ presence to rangers in the field. This is the latest threat to face the vulture population in Africa and it has increased rapidly with the ongoing slaughter of elephants and rhinos.

Poisoning associated with ivory poaching now accounts for one-third of all vulture poisonings since 1970 and is currently the biggest cause of vulture mortality. Further research published in 2017 highlights that, unchecked, this threat could lead to the extinction of some vulture populations within 60 years.

Poison so toxic …

The Poison Response Kits (PRK) are explained by our Head of Conservation and Research, Campbell Murn, who has been conducting research on vultures in Africa for the last 17 years. “These kits contain a range of equipment and first aid materials that are designed to reduce the impact of poisoned carcasses on wildlife. When a poisoning incident is detected, a response team is deployed with a PRK to the site. The team works to secure and decontaminate the site and minimise the existing and potential damage caused by the poison. This essential activity limits the negative impact on vulture populations, protects other vulnerable wildlife such as jackals, lions and hyenas and also reduces the wider environmental destruction caused by such an event.

“Often, poisons are so toxic that vultures can die with food still in their mouths. This means that work must take place as soon as possible to prevent further deaths.” With a quick response and the effective use of PRKs, hundreds of animals can be saved from death by poisoning.

We are aiming to raise the £35,000 needed for 100 Poison Response Kits for key areas in southern Africa. Each kit costs £300 and after a poisoning incident needs to be replenished at a cost of £180. Fundraising details on www.hawk-conservancy.org/prk

Not only will this go some way to reducing the environmental impact, these kits could also save the lives of thousands of vultures and other wildlife from unnecessary deaths. The impact on local communities of collapsing vulture populations will be severe and can already be seen in some places.