Among vultures
September 15, 2015
Project goal: Protection of vultures in southern Africa
Implementation: Raising awareness among the population about the effects of the massive decrease of the vulture population due to poaching and poisoning. Furthermore, monitoring of nesting sites, establishment of feeding grounds and breeding stations.
Project size: Approx. 60,000 square kilometers, equivalent of two-thirds of the land area of South Africa
Project budget: About 260,000 euros
The main reason why vultures are going extinct in southern Africa is poison. Poachers poison bait because if vultures circle above the poachers' prey, they could alert game wardens to their bloody business. Another problem is traditional African medicine. Vultures are killed because eating their meat is supposed to grant special powers. Bird conservation groups are trying to stop this cycle of killing. Their emphasis is on raising awareness about the importance of the animals, as well as raising the animals in captive breeding stations.
A film by Jürgen Schneider