08 Sep 2019

An official from the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism has called for strong collaborative efforts to help reverse the trends of the current profound rates of vulture mortalities.

Speaking during the International Vulture Awareness Day on Saturday, Mr Felix Monggae, who is the deputy permanent secretary (Natural Resources) said unless effective regional Vulture Conservation Action Plans were developed and implemented across the range states of such birds, there was a high risk that several of the species would become instinct in the near future. 

“We need to pull together all our resources and join in the fight to save vultures. Due to multiple threats including poisoning, habitat loss and nesting site disturbance, vultures in this part of the world are facing extinction,” he said.

Research published recently, he said, had also indicated that the vulture population was declining at about 80 per cent rate or more, over the last three generations. 

“Every year, Botswana loses hundreds of the birds, primarily due to misuse of agro-chemicals. Just a few months back we lost more than 500 vultures in one incidence,” he added. 

He said Vultures played a critical role in securing the future of the country’s wildlife-based tourism and public health.

International Vulture Awareness Day is commemorated on the first Saturday of September every year and was initially pioneered by Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England. 

In Botswana, vulture awareness day was commemorated for the first time in September 2014.

The vulture awareness has grown to become a global event aimed at creating awareness and sensitising people about vultures, following disturbing trends and disappearance of the birds in the environment, especially in Asia.

The Department of Wildlife and National Park and the Department of Environmental Affairs, under the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, in collaboration with BirdLife Botswana, joined the international community in the commemoration of vulture conservation awareness.

 The event started with a walk from Gaborone Senior Secondary School grounds- passing through the city centre and back to the grounds, where the proceedings of the day took place. It was attended by members of the public, mainly youth and students from primary, secondary and tertiary institutions. 

It was held under the theme: Vulture, Nature’s Solution for a Clean Environment. BOPA