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A powerful image of a single vulture set against a brooding cloud laden sky that provides a visual context for the future of vultures.

In June of 2019 the carcasses of 537 vultures in total were discovered in northern Botswana. Possibly to avoid detection alerted by circling birds, poachers poisoned 3 elephant carcasses they had poached. This cynical act highlights the risk vultures face and along with inadvertent poisoning, electrocution, loss of foraging habitat and unsustainable harvesting for traditional uses, their populations have plummeted.

A drug used to treat arthritis in cattle, inadvertently poisons Cape Vultures, who may feed on treated carcasses, resulting in kidney failure. Awareness programs and ongoing conservation measures are bringing about changes and Cape Vultures also known as Cape Griffons and Kolbe’s Vultures populations have stabilised in recent years and they have been down listed from Endangered to Vulnerable.

All 6 of the vulture species found in South Africa need laws to be altered and afforded ‘Specially Protected” status to assist conservation and help increase populations.

There is a breeding colony in the Potberg which is part of the De Hoop Nature Reserve and vultures there have access to a vulture restaurant on a farm that borders the reserve. Safe carcasses are deposited by farmers and so a plentiful food supply is ensured. I had investigated a visit to this colony and found out that it was possible to do a shortish hike that traversed their flight path as they soared along the edges of the cliffs and observe them at eye level. The hike turned out to be a little tougher than expected especially lugging some heavy glass along but we were rewarded with several vultures flying past us on our level.

I had visited a White-backed vulture colony in the Waterberg many years back and had an intense high-veld electric storm experience that imprinted on my mind and motivated me to visit the Potberg. Now that I know what to expect and where to look for it I will be back. I will also be revisiting the colony near Marakele in the Waterberg later this year.