To mark International Vulture Awareness Day, Wildlife ACT partnered with The WILD Collection to launch a creative conservation initiative that invited people to take part in something both practical and symbolic. The idea was to build a handcrafted Cape Vulture Sculpture, created to the accurate 2.6 metre wingspan of this important species, and to bring it to life feather by feather through public sponsorship.

Thanks to widespread support and a dedicated team behind the scenes, the sculpture is now complete and installed in the preening room of the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide in the Southern Drakensberg.

Bringing the Sculpture to Life

The project was led by Wildlife ACT’s Educational Content Specialist, Kayleigh Huysamen. Kayleigh handled the full creative process, welding the structure, cutting each feather by hand, engraving supporter names, and assembling the final piece. Her friends and family worked alongside her throughout with the Huysamen children actively taking part in the cutting and preparation, turning the project into a genuine family effort grounded in care and commitment.

Once complete, the Huysamen family transported the sculpture from Pongola to the Southern Drakensberg for installation. Their work brought the vision to life in a way that reflects the values behind Wildlife ACT’s conservation mission: teamwork, purpose, and long term impact.

A Community That Chose to Get Involved

What makes this sculpture particularly meaningful is the number of people who chose to take part. Supporters sponsored individual feathers that now form the body of the sculpture, each carrying a name that represents someone who believes in the importance of protecting Vultures.

A total of 123 feathers were sponsored, including 14 feathers dedicated to schools. This support helped raise R18 200 for Vulture conservation efforts. It also demonstrated the willingness of individuals, families, and long standing supporters of Wildlife ACT to contribute to something that strengthens awareness and conservation impact.

Why Vulture Conservation Matters

Vultures are essential to the functioning of healthy ecosystems. By removing carcasses quickly and safely, they reduce the spread of disease and support natural nutrient cycles. Their decline across Africa is a significant conservation concern, driven by poisoning, habitat pressure, food scarcity, and collisions with infrastructure.

Efforts to protect Vultures require long term monitoring, consistent awareness work, and practical conservation action. Projects like this sculpture play an important role in connecting people to that mission and strengthening support for the species that need it most.

A Meaningful Addition to the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide

Visitors to the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide can now view the sculpture as they step into the preening room before observing Cape and Bearded Vultures at the feeding site. The sculpture offers a moment to pause and consider the combined effort behind it. It is a visual reminder of the people who contributed, the families who helped build it, and the supporters who chose to make their names part of the story.

Its presence adds a new layer to the visitor experience and strengthens the educational value of the hide.

Looking Ahead

Wildlife ACT extends sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to this project through feather sponsorship or by sharing the campaign with others. Your support helps protect Vultures and strengthens the conservation work that continues every day.

The sculpture now stands as a lasting symbol of collective action. It reflects what can be achieved when people choose to support conservation with intention and care.

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