Major vulture relocation
The largest relocation of vultures ever undertaken will take place next weekend, 21 January, when 155 vultures will be moved from VulPro in Hartbeespoort to the Eastern Cape.
The relocation was approved by the Department of Forestry Fisheries and Environment.
“The vultures are underway to a bespoke facility at Shamwari Private Game Reserve adjacent to its existing Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre. Vulpro at Shamwari will be the new home for the Cape and African White-backed Vultures which will be transported from their current home at VulPro’s Hartebeespoort Dam facility during the first phase of the two-year relocation programme,” says CEO and founder of Vulpro, Kerri Wolter.
“Please take note that VulPro is not leaving Hartbeespoort. The relocation of vultures to the Eastern Cape is an expansion of VulPro so we can streamline our work, do more and be better and achieve more for the birds. This means VulPro Harties continues and is stronger than ever before.”
VulPro is the only vulture conservation facility of its kind on the continent and is spearheading population restocking and supplementation to address the severe decline of African vulture species. Wolter says that the partnership with Shamwari will create a safe area for both in-situ and ex-situ conservation programmes.
”Vultures with their important and efficient ecosystem services are a significant addition to the ethos Shamwari has created in restoring a natural and well-balanced ecosystem. In addition the stability and financial support that Shamwari brings provides sustainability to Vulpro’s breeding programme and the future of vultures in South Africa.”
The vultures being moved to VulPro at Shamwari are all non-releasable breeding birds. After the Cape and African white-backed vultures move in January, a second phase will see non-releasable breeding pairs of Lappet-faced, White-headed and Hooded Vultures and some additional White-backed Vultures being relocated.
The Cape Vulture offspring will be released on Shamwari and will all be fitted with tracking devices. The remaining species’ offspring will be transported back to VulPro’s Hartbeespoort facility where they will be sent to release sites that the National Vulture Breeding Steering Committee has identified as areas where the species needs bolstering and support.