Local perceptions and sociocultural value of Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus in Burkina Faso, West Africa

Abstract

Ostrich is co-published by NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor & Francis Group)

The global contribution of vultures towards ecosystem services and sustainability: An experts’ perspective

“… 34 Similarly, Griffon vultures ( Gyps fulvus ) were found to contribute large ecotourism revenues in Israel’s (West Asia) nature reserves, 35 and in two regions of the Spanish Pyrenees, where annual ecotourism revenues exceeded two million € annually. 36 In parts of West Africa, the Hooded vulture ( Necrosyrtes monachus ) holds spiritual values, 37 as do other vulture species in Asia through sky burials and other traditional meanings. 13 However, we note that this assessment of cultural ecosystem services may be biased due to the experts being working with vultures, thus being potentially and subconsciously biased.…”

Hooded Vultures Necrosyrtes monachus are at risk of extinction in Benin: A result of poaching for belief‐based use and decreasing food availability

“…The frequency of Hooded Vultures recorded during road counts in northern Benin was about four individuals per 100 km, which is very low, compared to 291, 255 and 734 individuals every 100 km recorded in recent surveys in Gambia (Barlow & Fulford, 2013; Henriques et al., 2018; Jallow et al., 2022). Interestingly, in neighbouring Burkina Faso, a recent nationwide road count recorded 1365 Hooded Vultures over 2261 km, with an average of 60 individuals per 100 km (Daboné et al., 2024), which suggests there may have been a massive decline in Hooded Vulture populations in Benin. Using a different survey method to ours, a similarly large decline in Hooded Vulture populations was recorded in Edo State, Nigeria, where only 37 Hooded Vultures were counted during 20 count points (at dumpsites, roosting sites and on roads) in 13 study areas (Nosazeogie et al., 2018).…”

“…Transects were chosen according to a nonprobability (purposeful) sampling method, which involved selecting routes where the probability of encountering a species is high (Patton, 2002 ). Given that Hooded Vultures have a close commensal relationship with people in West Africa (Daboné et al., 2019 , 2022 ; Mundy et al., 1992 ), we chose transects that linked the 33 main towns and townships that are reported to be potential strongholds for Hooded Vultures in northern Benin (Claffey, 1995 ; Dowsett & Forbes‐Watson, 1993 ; Green & Sayer, 1979 ; Clément Daboné pers. obs.).…”

“…Given that Hooded Vultures have a close commensal relationship with people in West Africa (Daboné et al, , 2022Mundy et al, 1992), we chose transects that linked the 33 main towns and townships that are reported to be potential strongholds for Hooded Vultures in northern Benin (Claffey, 1995;Dowsett & Forbes-Watson, 1993;Green & Sayer, 1979;Clément Daboné pers. obs.).…”

A new record of a chick falling from a nest in Limpopo province, South Africa, adds to the known causes of Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus mortality

“…We expect that the various causes of Hooded Vulture mortality may change in prevalence and intensity throughout this species' range, not least because of the behavioural plasticity of these birds, which adapt to differences in the attitudes of local people towards them (Deikumah 2020; Thompson et al 2020a; Owolabi et al 2021; Daboné et al 2022). Furthermore, we acknowledge that there may be other causes of Hooded Vulture mortality than those listed in Tables 1 and 2.…”