.jpg)
The Wildlife ACT team, in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, recently completed a focused Vulture capture operation within Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, successfully tagging and deploying GPS tracking units to eight new Vultures, including one Cape Vulture. Importantly, the team also recaptured an African White-backed Vulture that had originally been tagged in May 2024, updating its tracking unit to ensure the continued collection of long-term movement and behavioural data.
Building In-House Expertise and Capacity
.jpg)
Alongside this field success, Wildlife ACT’s Phillip Swart and Chris Du Toit have taken a major step towards expanding the organisation’s internal Vulture monitoring capacity. They have begun formal training under the mentorship of Vulture specialists Brent Coverdale and Chris Kelly, with the goal of earning their official Vulture Ringing Licenses. This certification will allow Wildlife ACT to independently conduct future Vulture capture and tagging operations, strengthening the team’s long-term conservation capabilities.
Why Vultures Matter
Vultures provide an irreplaceable ecological service by consuming carcasses that could otherwise spread diseases such as anthrax and rabies. Their role in maintaining healthy ecosystems makes them critical to both wildlife and human health. However, these birds face an alarming array of threats, including poisoning, powerline collisions, habitat loss, and declining food availability. The consequences of Vulture decline are dire, and their conservation is a matter of urgency.
A Holistic Approach to Vulture Conservation
Wildlife ACT’s Vulture Conservation Strategy addresses these threats through a multi-pronged approach that includes:
- On-the-ground interventions, such as satellite tagging, nest monitoring, and rapid emergency response.
- Public engagement and community education, helping to build understanding and reduce human-wildlife conflict.
- Policy-driven conservation planning, developed in collaboration with government and conservation partners.
Each newly tagged Vulture contributes vital data that helps scientists understand movement patterns, survival rates, and ecosystem interactions, ensuring conservation actions are as targeted and effective as possible.
Protecting Africa’s Sky Cleaners
Every successful tagging operation brings Wildlife ACT one step closer to safeguarding these essential scavengers. By combining technology, research, and collaboration, Wildlife ACT continues to play a leading role in protecting South Africa’s Vultures - and by extension, the health of its ecosystems.
.jpg)
