Breeding Monitoring of Critically Endangered Tree Nesting Vultures Across southern Africa
VulPro has been at the forefront of vulture conservation, conducting extensive breeding surveys and analysing trends across southern Africa since 2010. By identifying critical nesting sites and understanding the challenges facing breeding vultures, VulPro contributes invaluable data to the fight for their survival.
Researchers carefully observe and document the presence and behaviour of vultures at each nest. Newly discovered nests, whether identified during surveys or reported through community engagement, are integrated into the monitoring programme and tracked during subsequent visits.
Each nesting site is monitored a minimum of twice a year, allowing for comparisons of breeding success at the start and end of each season and enabling the calculation of annual reproductive rates. When notable declines are observed, further investigations are conducted to identify the underlying factors driving population changes. This regular monitoring ensures reliable and insightful results, providing a solid foundation for the development and implementation of effective conservation strategies
Monitoring season 2024
VulPro’s tree nesting monitoring covers a number of vulture species, including White-backed vultures (Gyps Africanus), Lappet-faced vultures (Torgos tracheliotos) and Hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus). Monitoring activity this year took place across 20 different properties, where the team recorded a total 137 vulture tree nests.
Long-established monitoring sites, such as Dwaalboom, Roedtan, and Mareetsane, provide valuable data on recent population trends, revealing mixed trends across sites when compared to previous years. In summary, the findings indicate a modest increase at Roedtan, relative stability at Mareetsane, and a slight decline at Dwaalboom. Continuous monitoring will be essential to track these trends further and to implement targeted conservation actions where needed.
White-backed records of active nests observed every year from 2022 to 2024 on a biannual basis.
Monitoring efforts further expanded to include an altogether new area in Marloth Park, Mpumalanga. This led to the interesting discovery of a Hooded vulture nest hidden away along the bank of the river. With fewer than 50–100 breeding pairs of Hooded vultures remaining in South Africa, this discovery is of immense conservation significance. It provides a valuable opportunity to gain deeper insights into the species’ behaviour and reproductive success.
Long-term data collection is crucial for understanding vulture population dynamics, identifying emerging threats, and prioritising conservation efforts. As VulPro detect declining trends and shifts in populations, data provides valuable insights into the scale of these changes, helping to inform broader population assessments like those used for the IUCN Red List.
VulPro are profoundly grateful to Colchester Zoo for its unwavering commitment to safeguarding African vultures. The Zoo’s generous support plays a pivotal role in advancing knowledge of population trends and emerging threats, greatly strengthening conservation initiatives. Thank you for your ongoing partnership this year, and we look forward to our continued collaboration moving forward.
