VulPro

African vultures have experienced a staggering drop of over 80% in their populations over the last 30 years! This alarming decline is attributed to a multitude of threats that they face on a daily basis, including power line electrocutions and collisions, instances of poisoning, habitat degradation, and the impacts of climate change.

VulPro, a conservation organisation in South Africa, is committed to protecting these important species and is the only organisation in Africa focused solely on Vulture conservation.

One of their major focus areas is the annual breeding population monitoring of African White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus). VulPro has been conducting these monitoring surveys since 2015.

This monitoring consists of surveying over a hundred nesting sites across South Africa on a bi-annual basis. The data gathered during these surveys enhances understanding of in-situ breeding success and the underlying factors influencing it. This research provides critical insights into demographic patterns of the species, the impact of environmental variables such as climate, and the identification of sites warranting protection for the long-term survival of the species. These factors are made all the more crucial in light of climate change. As such, the data from these surveys are being used to inform a study investigating the potential impacts of climate change on the breeding success and nest-site selection of African White-backed Vultures. The hands-on approach of this research also strengthens VulPro’s ability to mitigate any immediate threats to these breeding birds at the various sites.

This will allow VulPro to continue to monitor the wild populations and contribute to understanding of the effects that rising global temperatures, and the associated climatic variables, may have on African white-backed vulture populations across South Africa. By understanding the factors influencing nest-site selection, they can inform conservation strategies, such as the protection of suitable habitat, that will help provide this species a better chance of survival under future conditions.

Colchester Zoo’s Action for the Wild has donated £25,287.92 to VulPro since 2015.
In 2023, we will be making an additional contribution of £4,994.22 to help support researcher costs to monitor breeding sites of the critically endangered tree nesting African white-backed vulture.

To monitor the wild populations and contribute to understanding of the effects that rising global temperatures, and the associated climatic variables, may have on African white-backed vulture populations across South Africa. By understanding the factors influencing nest-site selection, they can inform conservation strategies, such as the protection of suitable habitat, that will help provide this species a better chance of survival under future conditions.