Vulture Poisoning Incidents and the Status of Vultures in Zambia and Malawi

Roxburgh, Lizanne; McDougall, Robin

doi:10.4314/vulnew.v62i1.3

Cited by 25 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 4 publications

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“…African vultures are often the unintended victims of poisoning incidents, in which carcasses are baited with highly toxic agricultural pesticides to kill carnivores such as lions, hyenas, and jackals (Ogada ), or to control feral dog populations (Abebe ). Furthermore, the recent rapid increase in elephant and rhino poaching throughout Africa has led to a substantial increase in vulture mortality, as poachers have turned to poisoning carcasses specifically to eliminate vultures, whose overhead circling might otherwise reveal the poachers’ illicit activities (Roxburgh & McDougall ; Ogada ). Consequently, the decline rates estimated here may have accelerated sharply in recent years; since July 2011, there have been at least 10 poisoning incidents that have, collectively, killed at least 1,500 vultures in six southern African countries (37–600 birds per incident; Ogada ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Another Continental Vulture Crisis: Africa's Vultures Collapsing toward Extinction

Ogada

Shaw

Beyers

et al. 2015

CONSERVATION LETTERS

305

300

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Vultures provide critical ecosystem services, yet populations of many species have collapsed worldwide. We present the first estimates of a 30-year PanAfrican vulture decline, confirming that declines have occurred on a scale broadly comparable with those seen in Asia, where the ecological, economic, and human costs are already documented. Populations of eight species we assessed had declined by an average of 62%; seven had declined at a rate of 80% or more over three generations. Of these, at least six appear to qualify for uplisting to Critically Endangered. Africa's vultures are facing a range of specific threats, the most significant of which are poisoning and trade in traditional medicines, which together accounted for 90% of reported deaths. We recommend that national governments urgently enact and enforce legislation to strictly regulate the sale and use of pesticides and poisons, to eliminate the illegal trade in vulture body parts, as food or medicine, and to minimize mortality caused by power lines and wind turbines.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Another Continental Vulture Crisis: Africa's Vultures Collapsing toward Extinction

Ogada

Shaw

Beyers

et al. 2015

CONSERVATION LETTERS

305

300

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“…For example, the estimate of 400 pairs in Zambia is higher than most other countries and is due to Zambia having a very large protected area network (>220,000 km 2 ). However, any error in the global estimate is likely to be toward an inflated figure, as not all of Zambia's Wildlife Management Areas will contain White‐headed Vultures at the estimated density (Roxburgh and McDougall ; R. McDougall, pers. comm.).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the large (>95%) and long‐term declines reported for this species (Ogada et al. ) across most of Africa over recent decades, combined with a range of ongoing threats that include poisoning (Kendall and Virani ; Roxburgh and McDougall ), harvesting for the animal trade (Groom et al. ; McKean et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using Africa's protected area network to estimate the global population of a threatened and declining species: a case study of the Critically Endangered White‐headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis

Murn

Mundy

Virani

et al. 2016

Ecology and Evolution

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The White‐headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis (WhV) is uncommon and largely restricted to protected areas across its range in sub‐Saharan Africa. We used the World Database on Protected Areas to identify protected areas (PAs) likely to contain White‐headed Vultures. Vulture occurrence on road transects in Southern, East, and West Africa was adjusted to nests per km2 using data from areas with known numbers of nests and corresponding road transect data. Nest density was used to calculate the number of WhV nests within identified PAs and from there extrapolated to estimate the global population. Across a fragmented range, 400 PAs are estimated to contain 1893 WhV nests. Eastern Africa is estimated to contain 721 nests, Central Africa 548 nests, Southern Africa 468 nests, and West Africa 156 nests. Including immature and nonbreeding birds, and accounting for data deficient PAs, the estimated global population is 5475 ‐ 5493 birds. The identified distribution highlights are alarming: over 78% (n = 313) of identified PAs contain fewer than five nests. A further 17% (n = 68) of PAs contain 5 ‐ 20 nests and 4% (n = 14) of identified PAs are estimated to contain >20 nests. Just 1% (n = 5) of PAs are estimated to contain >40 nests; none is located in West Africa. Whilst ranging behavior of WhVs is currently unknown, 35% of PAs large enough to hold >20 nests are isolated by more than 100 km from other PAs. Spatially discrete and unpredictable mortality events such as poisoning pose major threats to small localized vulture populations and will accelerate ongoing local extinctions. Apart from reducing the threat of poisoning events, conservation actions promoting linkages between protected areas should be pursued. Identifying potential areas for assisted re‐establishment via translocation offers the potential to expand the range of this species and alleviate risk.

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“…The technique of poisoning waterholes is typically favored to harvest fish but has been increasingly used to kill elephants for ivory, to harvest bushmeat, and to kill problem animals . Poisoning waterholes or rivers not only kills aquatic animals, but can also kill or harm terrestrial animals (including humans) that use the water for drinking…”

Section: Wildlife Poisoning 1990s To Presentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such is the case in Africa, where the poisons used to kill wildlife can be best described as silent, cheap, easy (to obtain and use), and effective. Here, such agents are increasingly the method of choice for killing damage‐causing animals, harvesting wild animals for food, and for traditional medicine, and they are increasingly used to poach elephants for ivory, rhinos for horn, and carnivores for fur . Apart from intentional poisoning, populations of nontargeted wildlife—particularly vultures—have declined dramatically owing primarily to feeding on poisoned carcasses .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The power of poison: pesticide poisoning of Africa's wildlife

Ogada

2014

Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences

171

151

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Poisons have long been used to kill wildlife throughout the world. An evolution has occurred from the use of plant- and animal-based toxins to synthetic pesticides to kill wildlife, a method that is silent, cheap, easy, and effective. The use of pesticides to poison wildlife began in southern Africa, and predator populations were widely targeted and eliminated. A steep increase has recently been observed in the intensity of wildlife poisonings, with corresponding population declines. However, the majority of poisonings go unreported. Under national laws, it is illegal to hunt wildlife using poisons in 83% of African countries. Pesticide regulations are inadequate, and enforcement of existing legislation is poor. Few countries have forensic field protocols, and most lack storage and testing facilities. Methods used to poison wildlife include baiting carcasses, soaking grains in pesticide solution, mixing pesticides to form salt licks, and tainting waterholes. Carbofuran is the most widely abused pesticide in Africa. Common reasons for poisoning are control of damage-causing animals, harvesting fish and bushmeat, harvesting animals for traditional medicine, poaching for wildlife products, and killing wildlife sentinels (e.g., vultures because their aerial circling alerts authorities to poachers' activities). Populations of scavengers, particularly vultures, have been decimated by poisoning. Recommendations include banning pesticides, improving pesticide regulations and controlling distribution, better enforcement and stiffer penalties for offenders, increasing international support and awareness, and developing regional pesticide centers.

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Vulture Poisoning Incidents and the Status of Vultures in Zambia and Malawi

Cited by 25 publications

References 4 publications

Another Continental Vulture Crisis: Africa's Vultures Collapsing toward Extinction

Another Continental Vulture Crisis: Africa's Vultures Collapsing toward Extinction

Using Africa's protected area network to estimate the global population of a threatened and declining species: a case study of the Critically Endangered White‐headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis

The power of poison: pesticide poisoning of Africa's wildlife

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