Vulture Conservation Efforts in Namibia Threatened by Illegal Poisoning
Farmers illegally using poison to kill suspected livestock predators are causing Namibia’s vulnerable vulture populations to decline.
As a consequence of farmers continuing to illegally use poison for livestock management, several lappet-faced vultures (Torgos tracheliotos) recently died from consuming the carcass of a poisoned jackal.
Tragically, this news comes shortly after the Vultures Namibia’s fundraiser gala raised N$8 000 for lappet-faced vulture conservation in Namib Naukluft Park. Lappet-faced vultures are classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. They are Africa’s largest vulture species - with a wingspan of up to 2.8 meters.
- » See also: Great Lakes Ecosystems May be Compromised by… Carp?
- » Get EcoWorldly by RSS or sign up by email.
According to allAfrica.com, a group of vultures on the Wilhelmstal-Omaruru Road that appeared unable to fly were reported by a tourist. Sadly, the birds were dead by the time Ministry of Environment and Tourism officials and Liz Komen of Namibia Animal Rehabilitation Research & Education Centre (NARREC) arrived at the scene.
The carcass of a Black-backed jackal was found not far from the scene. Officials believe that a nearby farmer poisoned the jackal, either as a result of an actual predation incident - or from simply hearing the nighttime calls of jackals.
This scenario happens all too often: After poison bait is eaten by a predator, the animal wanders off and dies. The vultures - who depend entirely on carrion - consume the poisoned animal, and thus become victims of secondary poisoning.
For decades, farmers have been asked not to use poison - and its use is, in fact, illegal. Besides the issue of indiscriminate secondary poisonings, farmers using poison actually end up with continual predator issues as resident animals are killed, allowing individual predators move into the territory.
Lappet-faced vulture population in decline
Lappet-faced vultures are currently classified as Vulnerable (population is decreasing) by the IUCN - just one category removed from Endangered. One of the major reasons for this decline is poisoning by farmers.
Widespread accidental poisoning, largely due to strychnine used by many farmers for predator control, has contributed significantly to declines … It is also often mistakenly persecuted as a livestock predator: one major deliberate poisoning incident killed 86 individuals in Namibia.
Effects of poisoning on vulture populations
Poisoning - even treating livestock with certain drugs - has had catastrophic effects on vulture populations. In India, the vulture population was decimated from 40 million to just 60,000, due to the use of diclofenac in livestock. This resulted in three species being classified as Critically Endangered.
The effects on India’s ecosystem has been dramatic - and the vulture population decline has even been linked to the country’s outbreak of rabies in humans.
Let’s hope Africa’s vultures receive the protection they need - before it’s too late.
Here’s to the continued efforts by the dedicated volunteers of Vultures Namibia!
Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cookipedia/ / CC BY 2.0
