Sampling Vulture

Vulture Jolly being fitted with cellphone device

Vulture Jolly on perch with cellphone device

A function of the De Wildt Vulture Unit is continuous vulture research. With the Vulture Unit housing over 77 non-releasable vultures, these birds can be used to play a vital role in saving wild vultures and vulture populations through critical research projects, namely:

• Powerline impacts to vultures
• Pesticide pollutions and the effects on vultures
• Vulture breeding
• Wing tags and vulture behaviour towards these
• Asian Vulture Crisis

Tubing Vulture

Vulture with wing tag

Vulture with wing tag (front view)

The De Wildt Vulture Unit has been extensively involved in the research project addressing the catastrophic decline of vultures in Asia, where over 98% of vultures from the Gyps genus have died out. After extensive investigations, the cause was identified to be a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) called diclofenac. This drug is extensively used in Asia to treat livestock and has now been found to be toxic to vultures causing severe renal gout, followed by death.

To facilitate and expedite a ban on diclofenac use in livestock, investigations were initiated to identify an alternative NSAID that could be used in its place. Meloxicam was reported to have been used on over 20 Gyps vultures with no ill effects. Subsequent safety testing of meloxicam has now been undertaken on Gyps africanus (African White-backed Vultures) by the De Wildt Cheetah & Wildlife Trust’s Vulture Unit in partnership with the University of Pretoria, BirdLife SA and the Wildlife Biological Resource Centre. Although trials are not complete, initial results are proving to be very encouraging.