International Vulture Awareness Day
- Ryan Eccleston
- 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!
Sources:
National Geographic. "White-backed vulture." National Geographic. Accessed September 19, 2024. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/birds/facts/white-backed-vulture?rnd=1726144002225&loggedin=true
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. "Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on South Africa marking International Vulture Awareness Day 2024." South African Government. September 7 2024. Accessed September 12 2024. https://www.gov.za/news/media-statements/forestry-fisheries-and-environment-south-africa-marking-international-vulture#:~:text=South%20Africa%20joins%20the%20global,the%20first%20Saturday%20of%20September.
Wildlife Act. "Recognising the Six Vulture Species of South Africa." Wildlife Act. September 1 2023. Accessed September 12 2024. https://www.wildlifeact.com/blog/recognising-the-six-vulture-species-of-south-africa
IUCN. "Amazing Species: White-backed Vulture." IUCN Red List. Accessed September 12 2024. https://nc.iucnredlist.org/redlist/amazing-species/gyps-africanus/pdfs/original/gyps-africanus.pdf
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