Threats to Vultures & Vulture Conservation

[Klipspringer]

Vultures and other birds who use large trees for nesting suffer also in Protected areas because the large trees are in decline and tree recruitment does not occur for a lot of species.

Elephants are to blame, but not only I think.

The area around Satara used to be a woodland and the decline of the canopy started long before elephant numbers exploded.

[Richprins]

Fire also plays a role!

[Klipspringer]

Another more scientific article about vultures and elephants in KZN with remarks to KNP. Long read!

http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/babc/v48n2/03.pdf

Vulture populations in KZN are small, declining and already at
risk of extinction. In KZN, 94.2% of tree-nesting vulture nests occur in areas with elephant;
this could increase to 99.5% in the near future if proposed land-use change takes place.
Anthropogenic impacts in the broader landscape mean that there are limited opportunities for
vultures to nest elsewhere, and we hypothesise that loss of suitable nesting habitat in existing
areas, including through impact of elephant on large trees, could result in declines and even
extirpation of these species as breeding residents. Given the demonstrated and potential
impacts of elephants on large trees necessary for vulture nesting, it is essential that the role
of protected areas and extensive wildlife systems for vultures be adequately taken into account
when managing elephant populations.

Tree selection by vultures
A brief summary of vulture tree selection for nesting based
on local studies is provided. In Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park,
the following trees are selected by Lappet-faced and Whiteheaded vultures within which to nest: Senegalia (Acacia)
nigrescens, Senegalia (Acacia) burkei, Vachellia (Acacia) robusta
and at times Schotia brachypetala, Balanites maughamii and
Ficus sp. (D. Druce pers. obs.). African White-backed Vultures
utilise Ficus sycomorus (36.4% of nests, n = 242), Vachellia
(Acacia) robusta (33.1%), Schotia brachypetala (14.9%),
Spirostachys africana (9.9%), Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens (2.5%)
and Senegalia (Acacia) burkei (1.7%) (Whateley 1986).
In Phongolo Nature Reserve, there is a definite preference by
African White-backed Vultures for Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens
trees with 27 of 28 recorded nests occurring in mature
Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens trees, and one nest in an Vachellia
(Acacia) tortilis (James Wakelin, unpublished data). The single
Lappet-faced Vulture nest at Ithala Game Reserve in 2005
was in a Vachellia (Acacia) tortilis tree (Rushworth, Wakelin &
Bawden 2007).
In the Kruger National Park, the heights of the nests of African
White-backed Vultures were 10 m – 25 m above ground (large
trees), with the most important species used being Senegalia
(Acacia) nigrescens 29%, Vachellia (Acacia) robusta 19%, Senegalia
(Acacia) welwitchii sub sp. delagoensis 17%, Ficus sycamorus 12%
and Diospyros mespiliformis 9% (n = 106) (Kemp & Kemp 1975).
Vogel et al. (2014) found that a larger proportion of vulture
nests were present on trees with lower elephant impact.
However, they observed that further investigation is required
as to whether vultures are selecting trees with low elephant
impact – thus avoiding trees with signs of a shortened
lifespan – or are abandoning trees when elephant impact
increases over time. They did observe however that some
new vulture nests were established in trees with high
elephant impact. Vulture nests are more likely to persist for
longer in larger trees (Vogel et al. 2014).
African White-backed Vultures tend to nest in large trees
close to perennial rivers and smaller drainage lines but also
nest away from watercourses (Howells, Craigie & Nänni
2010; Kemp & Kemp 1975; Whateley 1986). After massive
floods destroy favoured nesting trees on perennial rivers,
vultures may relocate their nests to unaffected tributaries
(Whateley 1986). Lappet-faced and White-headed Vultures
tend to nest in the interfluves away from drainage lines
(Howells et al. 2010; Kemp & Kemp 1975).

Elephant–tree interactions
Concern has been expressed over an observed decline in
large tree abundance in protected savannah areas linked to
the destruction of vegetation by large herbivores, particularly
elephant (e.g. Coetzee et al. 1979; Cumming et al. 1997;
Eltringham 1980; Jacobs & Biggs 2002; O’Connor, Goodman
& Clegg 2007). It is not the intention here to provide an
extensive review of elephant–vegetation interactions, but
some key local studies investigating elephant impacts on
large trees are summarised.
In Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park in KZN, elephant are having a
marked impact on certain less common tree species and larger
tree size classes (Boundja & Midgley 2010). However, the
nature of the elephant impact data currently available does
not allow a clear differentiation between various factors
(elephants, fire, shrub encroachment and interactions between
fire and elephant) driving vegetation change (Druce et al.
2017). Total woody plant density between 1999 and 2007
remained little changed, but there was a shift in representation
of different height classes. Density in trees taller than 8 m
remained unchanged between 1999 and 2007. Representation
of trees between 4 m and 8 m declined by 31%, while the
representation of trees less than 4 m increased from 61% to
71% over the same time period (Druce et al. 2017). Among the
common trees species, a decline in the number of trees in the
taller height classes (4 m – 10 m) was observed for Senegalia
(Acacia) burkei, Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens, Sclerocarya birrea
and Vachellia (Acacia) robusta (Druce et al. 2017). Senegalia
(Acacia) burkei declined from 1.55 individual trees per plot in
1999 to 0.76 trees per plot in 2007, while Senegalia (Acacia)
nigrescens declined from 2.96 to 1.59 trees per plot, Vachellia
(Acacia) robusta declined from 1.41 to 0.60 trees per plot and
Sclerocarya birrea declined from 0.69 to 0.29 trees per plot in
the same period (unpublished data). The most selected
tree species in Hluhluwe–iMfolozi Park include Cussonia
spp. (0.60 Jacobs index), Albizia versicolor (0.53) and Ficus
spp. (0.53) (Druce et al. 2017). Species selected by Lappetfaced and White-headed vultures as nesting trees also show
high levels of selection by elephant, for example Senegalia
(Acacia) burkei (0.37 Jacobs index), Vachellia (Acacia) robusta
(0.35) and Schotia brachypetala (0.35) (Druce et al. 2017).
Although Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens does not show high
selection by elephant overall, this species falls within the list
of trees with the highest percentage of bark stripping by
elephant, with 1.1% of all individuals recorded showing signs
of debarking by elephant; 1.1% of all Vachellia (Acacia) robusta,
Senegalia (Acacia) burkei and Vachellia (Acacia) nilotica had
been toppled by elephant by 2007 (Druce et al. 2017). In
summary, in addition to evidence of elephant selecting some
preferred nesting trees, there has been an overall decline in
density of some preferred nesting trees and there are
indications of a recruitment bottleneck into the mature size
class developing (intermediate size trees declining).
In Ithala Game Reserve (KZN), elephant had a
disproportionately large impact on tree mortality, with
elephant responsible for 38% of all tree mortality at a time
when elephant density was one-third of current levels;
damage accumulated over the years as elephants revisited the
trees (Wiseman, Page & O’Connor 2004). In Tembe Elephant
Park (KZN), elephant may be affecting the sand forest and
they have already changed plant cover significantly, but not
the species composition (Gaugris et al. 2004).
In the Kruger National Park (South Africa), the interaction
between elephant browsing and fire is resulting in a decline
in large tree density (Trollope et al. 1998), with mortality
higher than recruitment into the ≥ 5 m height class (Shannon
et al. 2011). In Swaziland, high densities of elephant in
small fenced enclosures resulted in mortality of virtually all
Senegalia (Acacia) nigrescens trees, and the absence of African
White-backed Vulture nests in these enclosures was attributed
to this mortality of preferred nesting trees (Monadjem &
Garcelon 2005). In Chobe National Park (Botswana), tree
density, cover and volume had increased over time
throughout the area, caused by a combination of an increase
of trees in lower size classes and a decrease in larger size
classes; the decrease of large trees is attributed to a growing
elephant population (Kalwij et al. 2010).
Elephant impact on large trees is often mediated through
synergistic interaction effects with fire (Moncrieff, Kruger &
Midgley 2008; Shannon et al. 2011; Trollope et al. 1998) and
browsing by other herbivores (O’Kane et al. 2011; Wiseman
et al. 2004), while in other cases it is not possible to clearly
disentangle the drivers (Druce et al. 2017). Trees with high
elephant impact have a higher likelihood of insect and fungus
establishment (Vogel et al. 2014). Hence, in addition to
making trees more susceptible to fire, elephant could be
influencing the survival of trees indirectly through opening
the bark and facilitating the colonisation by fungus and
insects (Hatcher 1995; Vogel et al. 2014). Older trees had
more accumulated elephant damage, and the accumulated
elephant impact on older trees could render them unsuitable
as potential nesting sites if arthropod and fungus invasions
increased over time (Vogel et al. 2014).

While there is no evidence at this
stage to suggest that suitable nesting trees are becoming
limiting, there is evidence of a reduction in density, and further
evidence of a developing recruitment bottleneck, of preferred
nesting trees in the most important areas for vultures in KZN.
Although it is complex to fully understand the interacting
drivers of change, there is evidence that elephant are at least a
contributory factor in these vegetation changes. We predict
that if an appropriate balance between elephant numbers
and vegetation is not achieved in existing areas with elephant,
this could conceivably lead, in the long term, to the complete
or almost complete loss of tree-nesting vultures as breeding
residents from KZN.

[Lisbeth]

Poisoned vulture carcasses found in Zululand

KWAZULU-NATAL / 11 JUNE 2019, 10:08AM / MPHATHI NXUMALO

A sight for sore eyes for conservationists. Ten Vulture carcasses were found in Zululand. Picture supplied.

Durban - Vulture poisoning has come to the fore as more than 10 carcasses were discovered in Zululand which have made the situation dire for the birds that are already fighting for survival as their numbers dwindle.

In a joint statement, Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, Zululand Vulture Project and Wildlife Act Focused Conservation detailed events around the discovery.

“The landowner notified members of the Zululand Vulture project who initiated poison response protocols, resulting in swift action to prevent any further losses. Zap-Wing, the aerial wing of Project Rhino also dispatched an aircraft to assist ground crews in searching the area,” the organisations said in a statement.

The call came on Friday after the landowner had discovered seven African White-backed, three Lappet-faced and one White-headed vulture. The deaths come as the organisations said the African White-backed and White-headed vulture were listed as critically endangered and populations in the province had plummeted.

“What compounds matters is the approaching breeding season, and in all likelihood, some of the birds killed may well have been breeding birds,” the organisations said. One of the vultures that was found had been tagged and was nearing breeding age and had been seen in numerous places around the country, and had returned to the area with probably an intent to breed within the next few years, the statement said.

[Richprins]

[Lisbeth]

With a little help from some humans (?) they will be exsticnt even earlier. Ignorance is killing our planet

[Klipspringer]

[Richprins]

Locusts!

[Lisbeth]

If this a different incident than the one above, then it is even more terrible

[RogerFraser]

FB Post
BWgovernment

PRESS RELEASE - VULTURE POISONING AT CT 1

The public is informed that the Department of Wildlife and National Parks recently identified a poisoning site in a Wildlife Management Area CT 1 in the Central District.

The poisoning was believed to have been caused by lacing of three poached elephant carcasses with a poisonous chemical which lead to significant mortality in vultures and eagles.

A total of 537 vultures and two tawny eagles were found dead at the site. The breakdown included 10 cape vultures, 14 lappet faced vultures, 468 white backed vultures, 17 white headed vultures and 28 hooded vulture.

The law enforcement team attending the scene is working around the clock to decontaminate the area. Sampling of carcasses and the environment was done for further laboratory analysis.

The public in the vicinity of the area CT1 is request to report any wildlife mortalities which may be spotted in their areas.

The Department is concerned with the habit of some individuals who deliberately poison animals as this is dangerous and harmful to the environment.

Furthermore, the public is encouraged to desist from engaging in such illegal acts and report any suspicious activities which may suggest environmental poisoning to the nearest wildlife office or the police.