Wilderness supports vultures for Africa

Wilderness, through the Wilderness Trust, has pledged USD5,000 to support the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Vultures for Africa Programme. Implementing specific actions that address the most significant threats to African vultures, the programme positively impacts seven vulture species across 17 African countries.

 

 

 

 

Through its donation, Wilderness is committed to protecting these large birds of prey that face significant threats, including poisoning. Four of the 11 species are now listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, after a steady decline over the past 30 years.

 

Vincent Shacks, Wilderness Group Impact Manager noted, “One of the key outcomes of our impact work is that both people and wildlife are better protected from each other. Vultures play a critical role in maintaining healthy ecosystems in the African savannah and it is vital they receive the required attention and recognition”.

 

The EWT’s Vultures for Africa Programme implements specific actions identified in the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species and Vulture Multi-species Action Plan, that directly assist the most significant threats to Africa’s vultures and other wildlife species. These actions include raising awareness, research and monitoring activities, and engaging governments and other high-level stakeholders to implement a response.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The EWT has trained more than 6,500 people in 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa to respond to, manage and prevent wildlife poisoning incidents. They also manage the African Wildlife Poisoning Database with partners, to capture and collate information from all known wildlife poisoning incidents across the continent.

 

“Wilderness recognises the importance of protecting this iconic species, and we pledge our support to the EWT. Their tireless efforts to protect Africa’s vultures and reduce high-level threats are critical for these birds to continue to positively contribute to Africa’s wild areas for generations to come”, added Vincent.