Take action to bring vultures back from the brink of extinction

A conservationist carries a vulture that was rescued in Naivasha. [File, Standard]

Every first Saturday of September is International Vulture Awareness Day, dedicated to conserving vultures, one of the most overlooked and misunderstood creatures in our ecosystems. These remarkable birds, often vilified as greedy scavengers, are vital custodians of our environment, playing a crucial role in maintaining the health of wildlife ecosystems and public health. Yet, in Kenya, particularly in the livestock-wildlife shared landscapes, vultures face an existential threat that could have dire public health consequences for us all.

Vultures play a crucial role as nature's clean-up crew by efficiently disposing of animal carcasses. If vultures do not quickly consume carcasses, they could become a medium for the spread of diseases such as anthrax, rabies, and botulism. By eliminating these potential pathogen reservoirs, vultures help protect the health of both wildlife and human populations.

Across Africa, however, vulture populations have been plummeting at alarming rates. The figures are stark: In just a few decades, populations of some species, like the Critically Endangered Ruppell's Vulture, have decreased by as much as 90 per cent. Five other vulture species found in Kenya are also threatened by extinction. The primary culprit? Wildlife poisoning. In the Maasai Mara and Amboseli, for instance, human-wildlife conflicts often lead to the lacing of carcasses with pesticides to kill problematic predators like lions and hyenas that prey on cows, goats and sheep. Unfortunately, these poisoned carcasses do not discriminate. Vultures, drawn to these sites in their large numbers, become unintended victims, consuming toxins and dying in droves. A drop in their numbers could devastate these crucial wildlife ecosystems.

The sharp decline in vulture populations is not just a conservation issue. It is a crisis threatening the delicate balance of natural environments. Without vultures, disease outbreaks and associated problems, like bloated medical costs, increase. These could have devastating impacts on wildlife and communities.

As we commemorate International Vulture Awareness Day, we must recognise that protecting vultures is not merely an environmental concern but a public health and safety matter. Everyone has a role to play in safeguarding the survival of these important birds.

There is a need for stringent enforcement of laws against wildlife poisoning. Perpetrators should be held accountable, and deterrents implemented to prevent future incidents. The Kenya Wildlife Service should work closely with wildlife conservation stakeholders and local communities in human-wildlife conflict-prone areas to expand and sustain anti-wildlife poisoning efforts. This may include increasing and supporting 'vulture volunteers' - local community members trained to monitor and respond to poisoning incidents - and equipping community conservancy rangers with the necessary tools and training to respond to wildlife poisoning emergencies.

Human-wildlife conflict, the root of wildlife poisoning, must be addressed sustainably. Supporting the construction of predator-proof bomas in the Maasai Mara and Amboseli landscapes is a step in the right direction. These reinforced enclosures protect livestock from predators, reducing the incentive for communities to resort to poisoning. However, more needs to be done to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife, including community education and promoting alternative livelihoods, such as beekeeping and ecotourism, to reduce dependency on livestock alone. Moreover, vultures are losing their breeding sites, potentially contributing to reduced chances of reproducing young ones. This, together with vultures being killed through electrocution, equally contributes to their population decline in Kenya.

Mr Gacheru Species and Sites Conservation Manager, Nature Kenya