Five vultures, cared for by a conservation group, have been successfully rehabilitated and set free in the wild on a South African mountain range. Among them, two Cape Vultures were rescued from the illegal wildlife trade, where they were targeted for their body parts. Another vulture had its feathers removed but was nurtured back to health over nearly a year by the Vulpro vulture conservation group. Two other vultures were saved from injuries sustained in the wild, with one becoming waterlogged in a dam and unable to fly.
The release took place on the Magaliesberg Mountains in northern South Africa, home to an existing vulture colony. Despite their unpopular image due to their scavenging habits and association with death, vultures play a crucial role in ecosystem cleanup and disease prevention. They are particularly vulnerable to mass poisoning incidents when poachers target other animals, leading to hundreds of vulture deaths.
Six of Africa’s native vulture species are either endangered or critically endangered, with the Cape Vulture recently shifted from endangered status to vulnerable in 2021 due to successful conservation efforts. The release initiative was a collaboration between Vulpro and the Humane World for Animals organization.
(Source: AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa)
