Trade in vulture parts in West Africa: Burkina Faso may be one of the main sources of vulture carcasses

Abstract

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.

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

“…Our results have shown that poaching (with poisoned baits, guns and traps) and decreasing food availability are the most important threats for Hooded Vultures in northern Benin and elsewhere in West Africa (Daboné et al, 2023). It is important that these threats F I G U R E 5 Knowledge about the causes of Hooded Vulture declines.…”

“…In Benin, all vulture species are protected by several legislative decrees of which the most recent is the N° 2011-394 of 28 and any person infringing this provision shall be liable to sentences ranging from 3 months to 3 years and/or to a fine of 100,000 to 500,000 CFA (~ USD 160-830). Nevertheless, while performing fieldwork, we were occasionally mistaken for poachers or traders, and offered vulture carcasses for 60,000-100,000 CFA (~ USD 100-160) each, which is 12-20 times the usual price paid in Burkina Faso (Daboné et al, 2023). Furthermore, we encountered a traditional healer living in Nikki locality with two live Hooded Vultures in a cage, who had declined several offers from Nigerians of up to 300,000 CFA (~ USD 500) for a live Hooded Vulture.…”

Reported mortality of Griffon VultureGyps fulvusin central Italy and indications for conservation and management

“…Direct persecution, whereby vultures are victims of deliberate illegal killing driven by dislike or superstition (Botha et al 2017), is not the main driver of global vulture decline but can become locally frequent and have a large impact on several species (Brochet et al 2019, Cailly Arnulphi et al 2017, Daboné et al 2023, Oppel et al 2021). Indirect anthropogenic mortality also represents a major threat to vultures (Arrondo et al 2020, Berny et al 2015).…”

Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus is at risk of extinction in Benin: a result of its poaching for belief-based use and decreasing food availability

“…In this paper, we explore the status of Hooded Vulture outside of protected areas, in northern Benin, by using roadside surveys.With the high level of demand for vulture body parts in Benin and Nigeria (a neighbouring country of Benin) (Nikolaus 2011;Buij et al 2016) and particularly, the recent increasing pro tability of the regional trade in vulture body parts (Buijet al. 2016;Daboné et al 2022a), we expected that Hooded Vulture would have become rare, with poaching for belief-based use being the main threat to Hooded Vultures in this area.…”

“…In the light of this, it appears that Hooded Vultures are severely declining in their West African range, but still survive locally in some restricted areas. Where large densities of vultures still occur, there has been a rapid rise in reports of vultures killed using poisoned baits for trade and beliefbased use(Henriques et al 2020;Daboné et al 2022a); this situation is alarming and presents a serious conservation challenge for Hooded Vultures in this region. Su cient attention has to be paid to the overall situation for Hooded Vultures in West Africa, before any attempt to down-list the conservation status of this bird to Endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.…”