The Vulture Programme in collaboration with the Johannesburg Zoo is proud to announce the hatching of their first captive bred Cape Vulture chick which hatched on 1 September 2011, this chick is unique in that the method used to successfully breed this chick is the first for the species in South Africa, as well as the first chick destined for Namibia as part of our Namibian Cape Vulture Recovery Plan.

The egg was laid on 11 July 2011 on an artificial breeding cliff inside an enclosure at the Vulture Programme’s Vulture Centre near Hartbeespoort Dam. The egg was then transferred to an incubator where it was artificially incubated for 54 days.  During this time, the parents were given a dummy egg to continue incubating. On 30 August the chick was heard inside the egg’s air-space and the next day the chick was assisted throughout its hatching process in order to safe guard and guarantee its survival during this stressful period.

At 15:00 on 1 September, the chick was taken to its natural parents and swapped with the dummy egg using a specially made plastic egg shell from which the parents could easily ‘hatch’ the chick.  The parents immediately heard the chick inside the artificial egg shell and assisted it to hatch again after which they carefully and proudly inspected their offspring and started brooding.  Our breeding and swapping attempt proved to be successful and fourteen days later, the chick has doubled in size and the parents are quite comfortable allowing us to watch their feeding regime.

This technique allows us to produce parent reared ‘wild’ chicks that are suitable for release into their natural environment, as opposed to hand raised chicks which can be human imprinted, while eliminating many of the dangers of natural incubation and hatching. Cape Vultures are colonial birds, but will mate for life, carefully choosing their ‘soul-mate’ from a large group. In captivity, they may not meet a suitable mate, thus for successful breeding, several birds need to be housed together to allow them to make their own partner selection.

The Namibian Recovery Plan is focused on preventing the extinction of the species in Namibia where they are now extinct as a breeding species.  The intention of the plan is to undertake ex-situ breeding of Cape Vultures with the goal to reintroduce these vultures back into existing home ranges in Namibia with the purpose of stabilising the remaining wild population. The ultimate goal being to increase the individual number of Cape Vultures to the point of natural breeding once again on Namibia’s Waterberg Plateau.

Background

The Cape Vulture is southern Africa’s only endemic vulture species and is listed as critically endangered in Namibia with approximately 12 wild Cape Vultures left in the country.

South Africa has the largest population of breeding Cape Vultures, however still listed as vulnerable by the IUCN (2000) with an estimated 2400 breeding pairs in the wild (Vulture Programme unpublished data 2011).  In view of the few remaining Cape Vultures left in Namibia, unless the mitigation of identified threats is undertaken, in addition to a captive breeding and reintroduction programme, the species will be lost to Namibia and only a few vagrant Cape Vultures from South Africa will be seen visiting some of the natural and historical foraging sites.

Vulture species across the globe are facing similar threats with the Cape Vulture being no exception, resulting in a continuous downward spiral throughout much of their range. Human activities have had the largest impact on vultures throughout the world.

Power line electrocutions and collisions together with inadvertent poisoning remain two of the greatest threats that vultures as well as other birds of prey are facing in southern Africa.  Disturbance at nesting and roosting sites contributes to a loss of suitable nesting/roosting habitat for vultures.  Human population expansion continues to claim large areas of wilderness, which will eventually be lost to vulture populations.  Development in wilderness areas for eco-resorts is a cause of great concern as these areas are often branded as ‘eco-friendly’ however, impacts are often as serious as many agricultural developments.  Climate change could possibly have an impact on the birds breeding behaviour, a threat that requires further focused research to understand its potential impact on the species. In Namibia, mismanagement of some farmlands has led to severe bush encroachment over large areas, and recent research has indicated that this also has an adverse effect on the vulture’s ability to find food.

Artificially incubated, parent reared in captivity by non releasable adults in our breeding enclosure, destined for release into Namibia, this chick is now ten days old, only seven years to go till its old enough to start making its own contribution to this species survival.

This chick is looking for a sponsor to finance the Tracking Device that will help to keep it safe after its release, and for transport, pre-release housing in the form a hacking enclosure that needs to be built in Namibia and more. Cape Vultures are extinct as a breeding species in Namibia.

Please contact us if you want to get involved. Full Sponsorship would give the right to place tracking data on company website, name the chick etc.

From Daniel Taylor (Internationally acclaimed artist) – a Tribute to VulPro in the Words of Daniel: “It is to YOU and to your tremendous workmanship and devotion that this painting is dedicated too and can only hope that this painting (prints) will be able to help raise those ever so needed funds toward your programs.”
For more information, or if you are interested to buy a print, please visit: Wild Art Africa

VulPro Cape Vulture release on 19 Dec 2010 from Walter Neser on Vimeo.

Four birds go back where they belong! Dorianne and Francois worked for many hours to save two of these birds, one from a Puff Adder bite, and the other from burns in the trachea from a, electric fence collision. Extremely satisfying to see them go!
Thanks guys

Cape Vulture organophosphate poisoning from VulPro on Vimeo.

The bird suffered from seisures for 2 days starting every 2 hours and increasing to every few minutes. These seisures then progressed to every few seconds and continuously until the bird was euthanaised. During the 2 day process, the bird was being treated for organophosphate poisoning with no success and no signs of improvement.

I Believe I can Fly – Mazda Wildlife Fund advertisement 2010 – South Africa from Walter Neser on Vimeo.

Kerri Wolters, somewhat of a “vulture whisperer” is a determined presence in the conservation world. Her ability to connect with and handle these birds as well as, to conduct wild captures, puts Kerri among the very few who recognize and advocate the vital role vultures play within society. Kerri takes us on a Path into the Future exploring not only threats on vulture survival, such as the muti trade and urbanization but the wealth of knowledge and freedom that these birds can pass on to the human race.

Taking a unique opportunity to paraglide, Kerri goes beyond the confines of the vulture enclosure and gains a perspective of life through the eyes and wings of the birds. Gliding with these misunderstood creatures Kerri’s eyes are further opened to the amount of beauty and wonder the modern world misses out on, she invites us as individuals to experience nature and thus gain an understanding of why this planet so deserves our protection.

Today only 2900 breeding pairs of the Cape Vulture remain worldwide. Path into the Future is produced by African Renaissance Productions as part of the Caretakers Series for STEPS and SANBI

For more info go to – africanrenaissance.co.za