INTERNATIONAL VULTURE AWARENESS DAY
– 1 SEPTEMBER 2012
The first Saturday of
September every year is observed as International Vulture Awareness day by the
Birds of Prey Programme (EWT-BoPP) of the Endangered Wildlife Trust, its
partners and associates including provincial conservation bodies and several
other NGOs involved in vulture research and conservation in South Africa. The
purpose of this day is to create awareness of the continued plight of all
vulture species and to highlight the work done by conservationists to monitor
populations and implement effective measures to conserve these birds and their
habitats
Vultures
are faced with a range of threats such as poisoning, persecution, electrocution
and collision with power-lines, drowning in farm reservoirs in drier parts of
the country, shortage of safe food supplies and loss of suitable habitat. The
potential impact of indiscriminately placed wind-energy installations is today
recognised as a major emerging threat to large soaring birds such as vultures.
A considerable number of installations of this nature are planned for South
Africa and it is imperative that the placement of such sites should consider
and attempt to avoid the potentially devastating impact that they may have on
the populations of these already threatened birds.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust in collaboration with the VulPro and BirdLife South Africa will be hosting a fun-filled family day at the VulPro’s facilities near Hartbeespoort Dam. Activities will include talks on vulture conservation, vulture feeding and lots of activities for the children. You can contact AndrĂ© Botha at andreb@ewt.org.za, Kerri Wolter at kerri.wolter@gmail.com, or Ernst Retief at conservation.gauteng@birdlife.org.za for more information on the day’s activities. A number of rehabilitation centres and vulture restaurants in the country will also host special events and showing vultures to members of the public.
For additional information please go to www.international-vulture-awareness-day.org on how you can become involved.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust in collaboration with the VulPro and BirdLife South Africa will be hosting a fun-filled family day at the VulPro’s facilities near Hartbeespoort Dam. Activities will include talks on vulture conservation, vulture feeding and lots of activities for the children. You can contact AndrĂ© Botha at andreb@ewt.org.za, Kerri Wolter at kerri.wolter@gmail.com, or Ernst Retief at conservation.gauteng@birdlife.org.za for more information on the day’s activities. A number of rehabilitation centres and vulture restaurants in the country will also host special events and showing vultures to members of the public.
For additional information please go to www.international-vulture-awareness-day.org on how you can become involved.
