The breeding and release programme is run in partnership with vulture conservation organisation VulPro. Photo by Zakhe Dladla/Sanbi.
Pretoria Zoo has released a Cape vulture into the wild as part of a species conservation programme.
A breeding and release programme for the bird, which is classified as endangered, began in 1996 and has been hailed as a success by the South African Biodiversity Institute (Sanbi).
“The released vultures are being monitored with GPS trackers, providing valuable data on their adaptation and movements in the wild. Some of the released birds have made it as far as Lesotho and Botswana, which is encouraging evidence that they are integrating into the wild population,” said Sambi spokesperson Edna Sekwakwa.
The vultures are fitted with GPS devices on their pelvises, allowing them to move around comfortably and allowing researchers to monitor their movements across South Africa, Sambi said in a statement.
Sekwakwa said the latest global assessment puts the “Cape vulture population at between 9,600 and 12,800 birds” in 2021. “This range highlights their vulnerable situation and the need for continued intervention,” she said.
Cape vultures live in parts of South Africa, Eswatini, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, and Sekhwakwa said their populations were threatened by poisoning and collisions with power lines.
“The biggest challenge facing vulture conservation is intentional and accidental poisoning, which is often linked to the illegal wildlife trade for vulture body parts,” Sekuwakwa said.
Vultures are believed to have healing powers and are considered valuable in traditional medicine.
“However, accidental poisoning occurs when vultures ingest carcasses that have been poisoned as part of predator control. This unintended consequence is one of the most significant threats to the survival of this species in the wild,” Sekuwakwa said.
The Cape Vulture is part of an effort to conserve vultures. There are many schemes in place to protect vultures across the country.
Without diligent conservation efforts, the Cape vulture was “highly likely to become extinct”, Mr Sambi said.
The breeding and release programme is being run in partnership with vulture conservation organisation VulPro and is part of a multi-species biodiversity management plan published by former Minister for Forestry, Fisheries and Environment Barbara Creecy.
The plan will “implement comprehensive strategic conservation actions covering the geographic ranges of all nine vulture species in Southern Africa, with a particular focus on the seven resident breeding species,” the department said.
Sarah Chabangu, Curator of Birds at Pretoria Zoo, said: “Our Cape Vulture breeding programme has been a cornerstone of our conservation work for nearly 30 years, and the progress we've made working with VulPro and other partners is testament to our commitment to protecting this critically endangered species.”
She said the multi-species biodiversity management plan “will guide our efforts over the coming years and ensure these birds continue to fly in South African skies”.
Apart from breeding and releasing, Sambi is also involved in raising awareness about why this species is important and needs to be protected.
“These talks, coupled with our ongoing public education campaign, are essential in raising awareness and changing public perception. Additionally, our partnerships with conservation organisations like VulPro play a key role in supporting broader conservation strategies, including anti-poisoning and habitat protection efforts,” Sambi said.
Two of the vultures released in 2015 had died, and one was electrocuted by an electrical cable in September 2020, “a reminder of the dangers vultures face in the wild”, Mr Sambi said.
Of the animals released in 2024, one was transported across South Africa and Lesotho, another had its tracking device “removed”, and the third was euthanized after sustaining serious injuries.