Vulture Poisoning in South Africa: Understanding this Conservation Crisis

Vultures in South Africa are under increasing pressure from one of the most serious threats to their survival: poisoning. These incidents are occurring across the country with growing frequency and severity, contributing to sharp declines in already vulnerable populations. In many cases, the poisonings are intentional, linked to wildlife crime, traditional medicine practices or predator control. Others result from indirect exposure to toxic substances, such as lead or veterinary drugs. Regardless of the cause, the outcome is the same: the rapid loss of individuals, the collapse of breeding groups and the breakdown of the ecological services that vultures provide through efficient carcass removal.

Understanding the Importance of Vultures in South Africa’s Ecosystems

Vultures play an irreplaceable role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by acting as nature’s most efficient waste disposal system. As obligate scavengers, they consume animal carcasses rapidly and thoroughly, removing potential breeding grounds for dangerous pathogens. Their highly acidic digestive systems are able to deal with harmful pathogens that cause diseases such as anthrax, botulism, rabies and brucellosis.

By effectively eliminating carcasses, vultures help prevent the spread of these pathogens into soil, water sources and surrounding wildlife or livestock populations. This natural service significantly reduces the risk of zoonotic disease transmission and contributes to environmental hygiene in rural and protected landscapes alike. To provide perspective, a recent publication reports that the total economic value of ecosystem services in Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe together is estimated to be just over USD 250 million per year.

The loss of vultures leads to longer decomposition times for carcasses, contamination of water systems and an increase in populations of secondary scavengers such as feral dogs and rats. Unlike vultures, these species often act as vectors for disease, which can increase the risk of outbreaks affecting human and animal communities. The collapse of vulture populations in parts of Asia, for example, has been linked to increased rabies incidence and major public health costs. Similar patterns are already emerging in parts of southern Africa.

“Vultures are the underappreciated custodians of ecosystem health. Without them, carcasses take longer to break down, diseases can spread more easily, and the natural balance of the environment begins to unravel. Without them, the consequences ripple far beyond the animal kingdom and into human health and the economy.” – Anel Olivier, Wildlife ACT Species Conservation Director

Understanding the Different Types of Vulture Poisoning Events

Poisoning incidents involving vultures in South Africa generally fall into two categories: intentional and unintentional. Intentional poisonings are those in which poison is used with the intent to kill or harvest the animal. These incidents can be devastating to vulture populations, such as the incident recently observed in the Kruger National Park; and the deliberate baiting of carcasses in, order to harvest body parts for traditional use, often linked to illegal trade, can result in the deaths of 50 to over 100 birds in a single event.

Other forms of intentional poisoning, to which Vultures may also be among the unintentional casualties, are those that are retaliatory or preventative in nature. When carnivores such as jackals or leopards are perceived to threaten livestock, poisoned bait is sometimes used by landowners or livestock farmers as a control method. These poisons are indiscriminate and affect all scavengers that feed on the contaminated carcass, including vultures.

Unintentional poisoning can often be more difficult to detect and to address, sometimes materialising as a result of chronic ingestion of toxic substances that they access. Vultures specifically are at risk to the impacts of ingesting lead over time, which occurs when they ingest lead fragments from carcasses left in the field after being shot with lead-based ammunition. Although less visible than mass poisoning events, lead exposure can result in long-term physiological damage, neurological impairment, and death.

“Lead fragments are slow and silent killers,” explained Olivier. “Even minutely small amounts can have devastating consequences for vulture health, many of which are already critically endangered."

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) used in veterinary care have also become a concerning source of unintentional poisoning for vultures. Commonly used to treat or euthanise livestock, these drugs can remain in the tissues of animals after death. When vultures feed on the carcasses, they may ingest residues that can cause severe physiological damage, including kidney failure and death.

Kruger Park Poisoning Highlights the Scale of the Crisis

In May 2025, Kruger National Park became the site of one of the country’s largest recorded poisoning events in recent years. A poisoned elephant carcass, contaminated with an agricultural pesticide, resulted in the death of 123 vultures. An additional 84 vultures were rescued and transported for rehabilitation at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, thanks to the swift and collaborative efforts by SANParks and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

While this incident attracted national attention due to its scale and location, it is not an isolated event and reflects a large-scale issue that has been around for years and is being tackled by dedicated conservation organisations across the country.

“Mass poisoning events like the one in Kruger National Park not only wipe out large numbers of endangered vultures in a single moment, but also leave a lasting ecological scar on the landscape. These birds play a vital role in disease control and ecosystem stability, and the loss of even a single breeding adult has far-reaching consequences. What is lost in minutes during a poisoning event can take decades to recover. We commend the swift and professional response by our partners at the Endangered Wildlife Trust in this case and their ongoing work.” – Anel Olivier, Wildlife ACT Species Conservation Director

Zululand: A Hotspot for Vulture Poisoning

Northern KwaZulu-Natal, particularly the Zululand region in which Wildlife ACT operates, is a critical area for vulture conservation in South Africa, but it is also one of the regions most affected by targeted vulture poisoning. The area supports populations of several endangered vulture species, including the African White-backed Vulture, the Lappet-faced Vulture, and the Hooded Vulture. These birds rely on a network of protected areas and surrounding agricultural lands for nesting and foraging. A breeding cluster of tree-nesting vultures in the poisoning hotspot area have been completely wiped out in just a few years. Sadly, the White-Headed Vulture has been confirmed to be regionally extinct since 2021.

“The complete absence of breeding White-headed Vultures in KwaZulu-Natal since 2021 highlights the critical need for targeted interventions. This is a species that was here, and now, alarmingly, it may no longer be. Sadly, Lappet-faced vultures are following the same path.” – Chris Kelly, Wildlife ACT Co-Founder

Poisoning events in Zululand are often linked directly to the traditional medicine trade, with vultures deliberately targeted for their body parts. Wildlife ACT, working in partnership with Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Project Vulture and other conservation partners, has responded to more than 60 potential poisoning alerts in the region since 2019.

Emergency Response and the Role of GPS Tracking

Responding effectively to poisoning events requires speed, coordination and technical capacity. Wildlife ACT maintains a dedicated emergency response system as part of a broader conservation network in KwaZulu-Natal. Key to this work is the use of GPS-tagged vultures, which transmit real-time location data. When tagged individuals become stationary for extended periods or congregate unexpectedly, the system can flag potential poisoning sites. These alerts allow Wildlife ACT’s emergency response team to deploy rapidly.

Upon arrival, trained teams assess the site, recover any surviving birds, collect samples for toxicology, record any crime scene evidence, and decontaminate the area. In several cases, Wildlife ACT teams have successfully rescued poisoned vultures alive and facilitated their transfer to rehabilitation facilities such as the Zululand Wildlife Treatment Centre and the Raptor Rescue Rehabilitation Centre.

“Rapid response is everything. Once a poisoning event occurs, we have a narrow window to save surviving birds, contain the environmental impact and support local authorities to gather relevant evidence to build a strong criminal case.” – Anel Olivier, Wildlife ACT Species Conservation Director

Conserving Vultures in the Southern Drakensberg

While Wildlife ACT works tirelessly throughout KwaZulul-Natal and beyond, in the Southern Drakensberg Wildlife ACT is specifically involved in targeted conservation work for two cliff-nesting species: the Bearded Vulture, which is regionally Critically Endangered, and the Cape Vulture, which is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site provides essential nesting cliffs, thermal currents and foraging grounds for these species.

Wildlife ACT operates the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide in the Southern Drakensberg in collaboration with Riverlea Farm. This initiative is further supported by key conservation partners, including Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, the Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, the Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme, and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.

This Vulture Safe Feeding Site plays a critical role in supporting local vulture populations by providing a reliable source of uncontaminated food in a controlled environment. By offering safe carcasses, the site reduces the need for vultures to forage over wider areas, lowering their risk of encountering poisoned bait or carcasses elsewhere in the landscape. Wildlife ACT also supports various such safe feeding initiatives across the province.

In addition to its conservation value, the hide functions as a platform for ongoing monitoring and public education. GPS tracking and visual observations conducted at the site contribute to population and behavioural data, while responsible visitor access helps raise awareness about the threats vultures face and the importance of their protection.

A National Response: South Africa’s Biodiversity Management Plan for Vultures

To address the complex threats facing vultures, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has published the Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) for Vultures in South Africa. Gazetted in 2024, this national policy outlines coordinated actions to protect and recover indigenous vulture species. The BMP identifies poisoning, habitat degradation, infrastructure collisions and the belief-based use of body parts as key threats, and sets out specific objectives for population monitoring, risk mitigation and public engagement.

Wildlife ACT Co-Founder Chris Kelly contributed to the drafting of the plan, drawing on years of field experience in vulture monitoring and emergency response. Wildlife ACT’s work directly supports several of the BMP’s strategic goals and contributes to its implementation at the provincial level.

Collaborative Conservation Is Essential to Vulture Protection

Effective vulture conservation in South Africa relies on strong, collaborative partnerships. Wildlife ACT works closely with conservation authorities, NGOs, research institutions and landowners to coordinate monitoring, emergency response and long-term conservation planning. Key partnerships include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the Endangered Wildlife Trust, Project Vulture, the Zululand Vulture Project, the Bearded Vulture Task Force, and many more.

Through these collaborations, Wildlife ACT contributes to national and regional recovery strategies by sharing field data, deploying tracking technologies, offering technical input to Biodiversity Management Plans, and supporting on-the-ground interventions such as poisoning response and Vulture Safe Feeding Sites. This collective approach ensures that conservation action is cohesive, science-based, and effective across the diverse and complex landscapes vultures depend on.

“Collaboration allows us to respond faster, reach further and work smarter. Vulture conservation is too complex for any one organisation to tackle alone, and it is only through strong partnerships that we can make meaningful progress.” — Ryan Kaye, Wildlife ACT Vulture Programme Manager

The work being done to support vulture conservation would not be possible without the support of dedicated partners, committed landowners, engaged community members, and individuals who contribute through funding, collaboration, and ongoing awareness efforts. Sincere thanks is extended to CHEP Global, Briandez Legacy Trust, the Rhino Peak Challenge Ambassadors, Dry Creek Foundation, the Wildlife ACT Family, and Jackie Scott, Brandie Wettstein, the Mowat Family, RMB Ultra-Trail Drakensberg, and many individual donors for the dedicated support.

Support Vulture Conservation by Visiting the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide

Support vulture conservation in the Southern Drakensberg by visiting the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide in the Southern Drakensberg. Located near Underberg, this purpose-built photographic and observation hide allows guests to witness vultures up close as they feed at a Vulture Safe Feeding Site. Proceeds from bookings help fund the maintenance of the site, long-term monitoring and emergency response efforts.

The hide is open to conservation-minded visitors, birders and photographers. To learn more or make a reservation, visit https://www.saveourvultures.com/

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