Two African White-backed Vultures and One Juvenile Bateleur Rehabilitated and Released After Poisoning

In a hopeful turn of events following a horrific poisoning incident in Northern Zululand, two critically endangered African White-backed Vultures and one endangered juvenile Bateleur have successfully recovered and been released back into the wild thanks to the rapid response and expert rehabilitation efforts by dedicated conservationists.

In early November 2024, rangers from Somkhanda Game Reserve discovered a mass poisoning event while on a routine patrol. The Zululand Vulture Project immediately alerted Wildlife ACT's Emergency Response Team, who rushed to the scene. Sadly, several vultures had already perished, but three birds - two African White-backed Vultures (one adult and one juvenile) and a juvenile Bateleur - were found clinging to life, displaying severe poisoning symptoms that were quickly identified by the team. Immediate action was needed in order to offer these endangered birds a chance at recovery. 

Working alongside Somkhanda rangers, Wildlife ACT’s team captured the birds and administered on-site first aid to counter the effects of the poison as far as possible. 

“It is essential to respond to events like these as quickly as possible and to provide treatment immediately, both to prevent further casualties and to hopefully save birds that have not yet succumbed to the effects of the poison. Timely intervention not only increases the chances of recovery but also prevents further harm to the ecosystem, ensuring that these endangered species have a fighting chance at survival," said Chris du Toit, Wildlife ACT's Emergency Response & Somkhanda Project Conservation Coordinator.

One of the African White-backed Vultures, which was in critical condition, was urgently airlifted by a Heligistix helicopter to the Zululand Wildlife Treatment Centre, run and managed by Kifaru Wildlife Veterinary Services, where specialist wildlife veterinarian, Dr. Mike Toft, provided lifesaving care. After being stabilised, the two remaining birds were also transported to the Treatment Centre for additional care and rehabilitation. 

Over the course of several weeks, all three birds showed remarkable recovery under the dedicated care of the veterinary team at Zululand Wildlife Treatment Centre. The Bateleur displayed particularly strong resilience and was released back into the wild in less than two weeks, fitted with a GPS tracker to monitor its movements and progress. 

Both African White-backed Vultures also fully recovered and were released more than a month later, with GPS tracking devices and ring tags being fitted by Wildlife ACT and Zululand Vulture Project in order to promote their safety and provide data on their post-release behaviour.

Vultures play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems by acting as nature's clean-up crew. As scavengers, they help prevent the spread of disease by consuming carcasses, which would otherwise contaminate the environment.

However, as demonstrated by this mass poisoning event, vultures are facing significant threats, and their declining numbers are cause for concern. 

“While we are delighted by the recovery of the birds that survived this mass poisoning event, we remain deeply troubled by the significant numbers of vultures that continue to be affected by the widespread illegal use of poisons and intentional vulture poisonings for body parts in Zululand," said Anel Oliver, Wildlife ACT Species Conservation Director. 

"These birds are an essential component of our ecosystem and we remain dedicated to promoting human-wildlife coexistence through advocacy and awareness initiatives.”

The successful rehabilitation and release of these three birds highlight the critical role of conservation efforts in saving endangered species and the importance of dedicated emergency response teams in areas where human-wildlife conflict remains a concern.

While the poisoning event underscored the ongoing threats vultures face, it also showcased the positive impact of collaborative conservation work and the dedication of wildlife professionals working tirelessly to protect these magnificent birds. 

By partnering with law enforcement and building on intelligence to improve prosecution efforts, this response event represents a crucial step in addressing wildlife crime and ensuring that those responsible for poisoning are held accountable, ultimately contributing to the long-term survival of vultures and other endangered species.