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Tsala Trails Journal

International Vulture Awareness Day

  • Sep 12, 2024
  • 1 min read

Updated: Jan 16


South Africa is home to 9 Old-World vulture species, 7 of which are endangered. As we celebrated International Vulture Awareness Day on Saturday, we zoom into one specific species: the white-backed vulture.


White-backed vultures are often amongst the first to spot fresh carcasses when flying high in the sky. By eating flesh before it rots, these vultures prevent bacteria and viruses from growing on carrion. Their stomachs have strong acids to neutralize pathogens and prevent the spread of disease through their droppings, and their bald head helps them stay clean as they pick apart the meat, preventing their feathers from trapping germs. 


Today there are around 3700 breeding pairs of white-backed vultures left in South Africa. Although they are one of the most common and widespread vultures species in Africa, their population has declined by over 80% in the last 40 years due to habitat degradation, carcass poisoning and collisions with power lines. 


The extinction of vulture species means an increase in the spread of disease, not only in animals but in humans as well!


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