SA Hunters visited Vulpro’s new project at Shamwari in the Eastern Cape to discuss further collaboration between the association and Vulpro. Kerri Wolter of Vulpro’s passion for vultures is inspiring. Their breeding project with rehabilitated Cape vultures that cannot be released has been a great success. Vulpro removes the eggs that these vultures lay in nests against artificial cliffs at the centre and replaces them with dummy eggs, which the vultures incubate. The real eggs are incubated elsewhere, and once the chicks hatch, they are returned to the nests for the parents to raise. When the young birds are big and strong enough, they are released.
Both SA Hunters and Vulpro are members of the national lead task team, which endeavours to reduce the risk of lead poisoning in wildlife. Vultures are an endangered species and extremely sensitive to lead. Several vulture populations in the country show high blood lead levels that affect their survival. In our pursuit of sustainable conservation and responsible utilisation, the association has already launched several initiatives specifically focused on vulture conservation. Awareness is continuously raised among members, other landowners, hunters, and wildlife managers on how they can contribute:
- Log all vulture sightings in the SA Hunters App’s Sightings section, where the data contributes to various conservation initiatives.
- Immediately report any sightings of injured, poisoned, or dead vultures to the conservation manager or Vulpro.
- Hunters using lead ammunition should not leave behind the remains of shot animals in the veld or donate them to vulture restaurants. This meat could be poisonous to vultures and other scavengers and endangered species such as Ground hornbills.
- Where possible, switch to lead-free ammunition. Read more on the website or contact Lizanne or Boetie at Inyathi Park for more information at Lizanne@sahunt.co.za or Boetie@sahunt.co.za
- Donate safe carcasses to vulture rehabilitation projects like those run by Vulpro at Shamwari.
- If power lines or wind turbines are erected on your property, ensure that the risks they pose to vultures are addressed.
- Help raise awareness about vulture conservation.
