The African Vulture/Wildlife Poisoning Database
AndrĂŠ Botha Co-Chair IUCN SSC Vulture Specialist Group
8th of November 2016
IUCN Red list status of the Africa’s vultures 1979
1985
1994
2000
2011
2012
2015
VU
Rare¹
Rare
VU
VU
VU
EN
NT
EN
CR
African W-b Vulture
NT
EN
CR
Hooded Vulture
EN
EN
CR
VU
VU
EN
VU
VU
CR
NT
NT
Cape Griffon
Ruppell’s Griffon Eurasian Griffon
Lappet-faced Vulture
VU
White-headed Vulture Cinereous Vulture
VU
NT
Bearded Vulture Egyptian Vulture Palm-nut Vulture 1.
Rare- ”small world population...not at present EN or VU, but are at risk”
EN
LC (Africa?)
VU
EN
CR
LC
What are the threats?
Poisoning, poaching, collisions, Habitat loss and disturbance
Poaching, poisoning, habitat loss and food shortage
Poisoning, Habitat loss and food shortage
Main Threats Affecting All Species by Region – Questionnaires Poisoning, poaching, collisions, disturbance and habitat loss
Recorded animal mortalities
African Poisoning Database • • • • • •
Established 2012 D. Ogada, R. Buij & A. Botha Contains data from 1961 - present All available records from known incidents Historically published incidents Shared data from various sources
•
Vulture losses recorded – 7132
• •
Other scavenging birds – 126 Mammalian predators – 526
Vultures 526 126
534
Other scavenging birds Other birds
7132
Scavenging mammals
Data submission per Country Data from 15 Countries (No of records)
No of mortalities per Country
1 2 1 4
11 1
16 10 23 22
1
South Africa Botswana
Zimbabwe
25
98
Namibia
21
30 536 2 12 592 222
16 34 1479
1125
582
5
1181
1181 1125
Kenya
Huge gaps – especially West Africa
South Africa Namibia
Zimbabwe Kenya Zambia
Vulture poisoning – A re-emerging Threat? African Database (185 entries)
Poisoning 1995-2015
2500
2000
1500 1995-2015 1000
0
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
500
Mortalities per Species Mortalities 3500 3000 2500 2000
1500 1000 500 0
Mortalities
Substances used Substances UNID Organophosphate Monocrotophos
5 Carbofuran
13 36
Aldicarb
119 Strychnine
16 Cyanide
11 4
12
Other Unknown
• • • • • • •
Sampling often inadequate Samples poorly preserved Advanced decomposition Transportation and permits Equipment and skill lacking Laboratory facilities Customs regulations - harmful chemicals - biological material • Appropriate analytical tools • Cost factor
Poison is readily available
Poaching-related Incidents & Losses (Southern Africa) Recent incidents in southern Africa:
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Mozambique – 76 birds (June 2011) Zimbabwe – 174 birds (August 2012) Mkhuze, South Africa – 41 birds (Nov 2012) Mozambique – 84 birds (May 2013) Namibia – 400-500 birds June 2013 Zambia – 302 birds (Oct 2013) Zimbabwe – 219 birds (Oct 2013) Imfolozi, South Africa – 37 birds (Nov 2013) Hoedspruit, Limpopo – 65 birds (May 2015) Botswana – 40 birds (June 2015) Mozambique – 42 birds (July 2015) Kruger National Park, South Africa – 44 birds (September 2015) Letaba Ranch, South Africa – 22 birds (November 2015) Kruger National Park, South Africa – 110 birds (February 2016) Zambia – 106 birds (May 2016) Kruger National Park – 22 birds (May 2016) Botswana (August 2016) – 150 birds Mozambique (October 2016) – 51 birds
Vultures poisoned 1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
Muthi Trade
Secondary poisoning
Meat or Skin Poaching
Damage to crops
Lead Poisoning
What is being done? • Review and improvement in legislation • Banning of certain substances: – Monocrotophos – 2005 – Aldicarb – 2014
• • • • • • •
Support and guidance to Law Enforcement Proper investigation and prosecution procedures Training of Conservation and Agricultural staff Interaction with Traditional Healers Organisations Awareness of Public Health Risks Veterinary medicine control regulations Stockpiles programme
Supplementary Vulture Feeding Sites • • • • •
Aka “Vulture Restaurants” Initiated in 1970’s Safe, reliable source of food 187 sites across South Africa Not subject to permits or legislation • Requires careful management • Perceptions
Poisoning Incident Intervention Training • • •
• • • • •
• •
Identifying and reaction to a poisoning incident Scene management and investigation Collection of samples and other evidence Wildlife rescue and emergency first-aid Decontamination of scene Legal process – prosecution and follow-up Human health concerns – muthi & food Training - SANParks, LEDET, MPTA, EKZNW, GDARD, FSDEA, SAPS, others Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Kenya, Lesotho 851 learners to date
Planning for Poisoning Events • • • • • • • • • •
Poisoning response plan – SOP Reaction team – internal skills base Air support? Contact list – key stakeholders Equipment – Poisoning response kits Rescue and Treatment of Live Specimens Laboratory for sample analysis Transport, safe-keeping and hand-over of samples Occupational health & safety Basic first aid
Awareness materials
Vulture Information Leaflets
• www.ewt.org.za • Updated format • Translations – Sesotho, isiZulu, etc.
Competition for exposure and resources with…….
Access and Web-enablement • Update with reliable information • Standard reporting format • Internet interface • Link to ARDB • Submission – open access • Sensitive information • Access to data summaries • Will still have to solicit information regardless
Data capture • Done through an app that opens in your browser • Will work offline, and data will be uploaded later when online
Data capture screen • Still requires some work e.g. drop-down lists and numbers of affected individuals
Data extraction • Done through a map interface • Shows all recorded poisoning incidents • Allows one to filter for countries or species • Will allow download of basic set of data (species, date, locality)
The time to act is
NOW!
Contact details • • • • • •
André Botha Birds of Prey Programme Endangered Wildlife Trust Mobile: +27 82 962 5725 E-mail: andreb@ewt.org.za URL: www.ewt.org.za