More bird species are becoming threatened

STATE: What we know about the changing state of birds

More bird species are becoming threatened

Vulture declines in Africa

Today, Africa’s vultures are disappearing at a devastating rate. Assessment of vulture declines over 30 years showed that populations of seven African vulture species have fallen by 80-97% (over 92% in five species) in the last three generations. The need for action to reverse the decline of Africa’s vultures is urgent. The ecological effects are already being felt today across the continent. In the Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya, vulture numbers have plummeted by over 60% in just a couple of decades; and in parts of West Africa, vulture populations have declined by over 97% outside protected areas.

Four African vulture species – Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus, Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli and Whiteheaded Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis – were uplisted to Critically Endangered in the 2015 IUCN Red List, indicating that if no immediate action is taken, they may become extinct within our lifetime.

Site of poisoned vultures and elephant carcass (PHOTO: ©Hugo van der Westhuizen)

SPECIES

White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus Rüppell’s Vulture Gyps rueppelli Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus Cinereous Vulture Aegypius monachus

Griffon Vulture Gyps fulvus Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis

2017 IUCN RED LIST CATEGORY

Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered

Critically Endangered

Endangered

Endangered

Endangered

Near Threatened

Near Threatened

Least Concern

Least Concern

Fig 6. Africa’s Vultures and their IUCN Red List status

White-backed Vultures eating a dead wildebeest. (PHOTO: ©Magnus Kjaergaard)

White-headed Vulture, one of the species uplisted to Critically Endangered. (PHOTO: ©Klaus Rudloff)