Summary The current catastrophic decline in African vultures is caused mainly by poisoning, and killing for consumption and belief-based use (traditional medicine). To find out more about the key threats to vultures in West Africa, we assessed the main anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality in Burkina Faso. We analysed incidents of mass vulture mortality, based on interviews conducted in 2016 with local butchers, veterinarians, foresters, and abattoir watchmen at 44 sites across the country. A total of 730 interviews revealed that poisoning was the main cause of mortality of vultures in Burkina Faso (20 of the 23 mass mortality incidents described by respondents were caused by poisoning). Poisoning was also the most lethal threat to vultures (779 out of 879 known vulture deaths were due to poisoning). According to the survey, intentional poisoning of vultures with poisoned baits (which comprised 15 out of 23 mass mortality incidents) produced the highest number of victims (577 out of 879 dead vultures). The number of vultures killed by poisoned baits was higher closer to the borders than elsewhere in Burkina Faso and we believe these recent intentional vulture poisoning events in Burkina Faso were intended to meet the growing demand for vulture body parts in West Africa. The survey showed that unintentional poisoning was the second main cause of vulture mass mortality (5 out of 23 mass mortality incidents comprising 202 of 879 dead vultures). Other important anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality included electrocution at electricity poles and motor vehicle collisions. Our results highlight the need for awareness campaigns, improved policy and legislation, and stronger commitment from governments in West Africa, to halt the trade in vultures and prevent their extirpation.

During the last decades, the critically endangered Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus has strongly declined across its African range. Although direct persecution has been suggested as a major cause of this decline, little is known about the impact of humans on reproductive output in West Africa. We studied the impact of human activities on the reproductive output of Hooded Vultures in the Garango area of Burkina Faso. Twenty and 56 nesting attempts were monitored, respectively, during the breeding season in 2013/14 and 2014/15, to determine reproductive success and identify causes of nest failure. Annual breeding success varied between 0.68 and 0.71 chicks fledged per breeding pair per year and productivity was assessed at 0.57 chicks fledged per territorial pair in 2014/15. The main threats imposed by humans were poaching of eggs, chicks and collection of nest materials, leading to 20% (13 out of 64 breeding attempts) of nest failures over the two years. An additional important reason for nest failure was the pruning and (partial) cutting of nest trees. Despite this high level of human interference, we found that Hooded Vulture nest success increased with proximity to human settlements, probably because breeding vultures benefit from protection by people against persecution and disturbance. Impact des activités anthropiques sur la reproduction du Vautour charognard Necrosyrtes monachus au Burkina FasoAu cours des dernières décennies, le Vautour charognard Necrosyrtes monachus en danger critique d'extinction, a fortement décliné à travers son aire de répartition africaine. Bien que la persécution directe ait été suggérée comme une cause majeure de ce déclin, on en sait peu de l'impact de l'Homme sur la reproduction en Afrique de l'Ouest. Nous avons étudié l'impact des activités de l'Homme sur le succès de la reproduction des Vautours charognards dans la zone de Garango au Burkina Faso. Vingt et 56 tentatives de nidification ont été suivies respectivement au cours des saisons de reproduction 2013/14 et 2014/15 afin de déterminer le succès de la reproduction et les causes des échecs de ces tentatives. Le succès de reproduction annuel a varié entre 0.68-0.71 jeunes envolés par couple reproducteur par an et la productivité a été évaluée à 0.57 jeunes envolés par couple territorial en 2014/15. La principale menace provenant de l'activité de l'Homme est le braconnage des oeufs, des jeunes et la récolte des matériaux de construction des nids, conduisant à 20% (13 sur 64 tentatives de nidification) d'échecs de reproduction en deux ans. Une autre raison importante des échecs de reproduction est l'élagage et la coupe (partielle) des arbres abritant les nids. Malgré ce niveau élevé de la pression d'origine anthropique, nous avons constaté que le succès de reproduction du Vautour charognard augmente avec la proximité des habitations humaines, probablement grâce à la protection de la part des populations contre les persécutions et les perturbations.

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African vulture populations are rapidly declining, yet funding and other resources available for their conservation are limited. Improving our understanding of which African vulture species could best serve as an umbrella species for the entire suite of African vultures could help conservationists save time, money, and resources by focusing their efforts on a single vulture species. Furthermore, improving our understanding of the suitability of African vultures as biomonitors for detecting environmental toxins could help conservation authorities to detect changes in ecosystem health. We used a systematic approach based on criteria selected a priori to objectively evaluate the potential of each of the 10 resident African vulture species as (i) an umbrella species for all of the African vulture species, and (ii) an avian biomonitor. For each criterion, we scored the respective African vulture species and summed the scores to determine which species was best suited as an umbrella species and as an avian biomonitor. Our results showed that, overall, certain aspects of vulture ecology (large population sizes, large body sizes, long lifespans, and their ability to be monitored over numerous seasons) support their suitability as biomonitors, while other ecological traits, including their diets and the public's perceptions of vultures, could diminish their suitability. The White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus) was the best fit of the 10 vulture species in our assessment as both an avian biomonitor and an umbrella species for all African vulture species. Meanwhile, significant knowledge gaps for other species inhibit their utility as biomonitors. Due to their large home-range sizes, African vultures may only be useful as biomonitors at a regional scale. However, there could be value in using the White-backed Vulture as an umbrella species, as an aid to conserve the entire suite of African vulture species.

Birds, amphibians, fish, and macroinvertebrates are useful indicators of ecological conditions and ensure considerable conservation value and tools for decision making in management of wetland ecosystems. However, the use of these organisms to monitor wetland ecosystems has rarely been explored in Western Africa. Whereas, we are currently facing to growing multiple anthropogenic pressures and climate warming that impact negatively our wetlands and the biodiversity. Notably, there is an urgent need of cost-effective tools for wetland ecosystems health assessment in Burkina Faso. In this study, we examined the taxonomic composition of birds, amphibians, fish, and macroinvertebrates and explored their potential use for monitoring wetland ecosystems. From our findings, measures of taxa composition and diversity respond to the gradients of anthropogenic alterations. Our results revealed that the highest diversity of fish and macroinvertebrates taxa was recorded in protected sites, whereas the lowest diversity was obtained in degraded sites. Additionally, the findings showed a strong and positive correlation between macroinvertebrates taxa and key water variables, whereas fish taxa were strongly correlated to xylal (deadwood) substrates. Most of bird’s species were recorded in tree-shrubs, and amphibians of protected wetlands were distinguished by identifying indicator taxa through indicator value index. African wetland ecosystems and biodiversity may be sustainably preserved through responsive monitoring programs of wetlands by limnologists.

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In recent years, the situation of Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus in West Africa has gone sour. However, in some restricted area in this region the species is still found in relative abundance. To find out more about the situation in West Africa, we set out to assess and ascertain the status of the Hooded Vulture in Northern Benin. We conducted road counts, on paved and unpaved roads and along small trails over a total length of 1451 km linking a total of 33 towns and townships. While the road counts were being conducted, we also explored and examined potential threats in Hooded Vultures based on interviews conducted with local abattoir watchmen, veterinarians, butchers and foresters. A total of 52 Hooded Vultures were counted mostly in the departments of Atacora (32) but also in Alibori (10) and Borgou (10). The relative abundance was four Hooded Vultures per 100 km, highlighting the near extirpation of this bird from Benin. A total of 49 interviews revealed that poaching for belief-based use (through shooting, and traps) and decreasing food availability remain the most important threats for Hooded Vultures in Northern Benin. If these threats are not mitigated, we predict the extirpation of the Hooded Vulture in the years ahead in Benin. Conservation measures including awareness campaigns, and the improvement and enforcement of legislation to guarantee the protection of Hooded Vultures, must be urgently implemented for their conservation.