I’d driven past them for a decade, oblivious to the hidden drama unfolding just off the road. In this secret world, a misunderstood bird, often reviled as a symbol of death, actually holds the key to preventing widespread disease and preserving our ecosystems.
What I discovered at VulPro, behind unassuming gates, was a startling story of injury, recovery, and a quiet battle waged daily to save these unlikely heroes from the very human threats that push them to the brink.
I told Alistair I have driven past them many times over the last decade and never even knew they were there. Alistair was our VulPro guide.
The afternoon began with Alistair presenting on why vultures are important to the natural world. You see, vultures represent death, and because of this, they are not very favorable birds.
Why are vultures important to the natural world?
Vultures are crucial to the natural world primarily because they are nature’s cleanup crew. They rapidly consume dead animals, which prevents the spread of diseases like anthrax and rabies by neutralizing pathogens with their strong stomach acid.
This process also efficiently recycles nutrients back into the ecosystem, keeping the environment clean. As indicator species, their health reflects the overall health of the ecosystem.
Their role in regulating other scavenger populations further contributes to ecological balance. Without vultures, disease outbreaks would likely increase, and nutrient cycling would be disrupted, resulting in significant negative impacts on both wildlife and human health.
The Enclosures
After the presentation, Alistair took us on a tour of the different enclosures, sharing his knowledge about the birds: how they arrived, what had happened to them, and whether they would be permanent residents or reintroduced to the wild.
We also took a look at the facilities where they care for these birds after a tough day. They handle everything in-house, from X-rays to operations, with vets on standby 24/7/365.
Making my way through these enclosures, I saw a Hooded Vulture, Fish Eagle, a few Cape Vultures, and Andean Condors (Vultur Gryphus).
There are multiple huge high-rise enclosures at the facility. Some had just one bird, which was being treated for recovery, while others had many birds of the same species.
These enclosures are spacious enough for the birds to fly around freely. They all had food and water, and the birds appeared to be well-cared for.
Also on site, we saw the Vulture Restaurant, which consists of multiple carcasses and birds from all around feeding on them. There is a slight smell, which is expected from raw meat lying in the sun. All natural.
These birds didn’t make much of a sound as we walked by their enclosures. However, they were curious and came up to say hello. As they came closer to the fence, it allowed us to take better photos.
One of the vultures, having lost a wing and now walking tilted to the side, still has a functional wing. Alistair mentioned that they need to decide if the remaining wing should be removed for better functionality, but isn’t sure how that would affect the bird’s ability to stay warm. Upon further observation, they will determine whether the wing should be removed. This vulture will remain a permanent resident.
The challenge was seeing these birds in enclosures going through a tough time recovering from their injuries, and hearing about what happens to them in the wild. It’s disappointing to hear what unfolds in the wild, especially when there is mass poisoning involved, caused by humans.
What hazards do vultures experience?
Vultures face critical hazards, primarily driven by human activities, which lead to injury and death. The most significant threat is poisoning, both intentional (by poachers to avoid detection) and accidental (from veterinary drugs like NSAIDs in livestock, or pesticides used for pest control).
Collisions and electrocutions with power lines and infrastructure are also significant causes of mortality. Other hazards include reduced food availability due to changes in land use, habitat loss and degradation, and illegal killing for traditional medicine. These threats, especially mass poisoning events, have severely depleted vulture populations worldwide.
The reward was recognizing that many of them can recover after experiencing trauma, thanks to the efforts of VulPro and their affiliates.
About VulPro
Where Did It All Start?
VulPro was founded in 2007 by Kerri Wolter in South Africa. It emerged from the need for a dedicated organization focused solely on vulture conservation after the dissolution of a previous group.
Initially operating under another conservation non-profit organization (NPO), VulPro officially became its own entity in January 2011, relocating its facilities to Hartbeespoort. Its early focus was on the Cape Vulture, starting with just one aviary and two non-releasable birds.
How Is It Going?
VulPro has since grown into a world-leading and internationally recognized vulture conservation organization. They now employ a comprehensive approach including:
- Rescue and Rehabilitation: Admitting hundreds of injured or poisoned vultures annually, with a high success rate for release.
- Captive Breeding: Running a vital program that releases captive-bred vultures back into the wild to supplement declining populations. Over 50 captive-bred vultures have been released since their inception.
- Research: Conducting extensive research through population monitoring, GPS tracking, and publishing scientific findings (over 40 peer-reviewed publications).
- Education and Threat Mitigation: Engaging communities, landowners, and energy companies to raise awareness and implement solutions against major threats like poisoning and power line collisions.
VulPro currently cares for over 250 non-releasable vultures of six African species across multiple facilities, including a significant expansion in the Eastern Cape. Their efforts have contributed to the Cape Vulture’s conservation status improving from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2021, a rare success story in conservation.
Despite significant achievements, they continue to face challenges such as funding needs and the ongoing threat of poisoning.
The following is a Q&A section featuring the most frequently asked questions related to VulPro and their work.
What You Should Know Q&A
Where is VulPro located? Can I visit their facility?
VulPro’s main rehabilitation and education center is located in Hartbeespoort, Rietfontein, South Africa. They also have facilities in the Eastern Cape, specifically on Shamwari Private Game Reserve.
Information on visiting hours or tours can typically be found on their official website, often by appointment or during specific open days.
How can I report an injured or distressed vulture?
If you find an injured, poisoned, or grounded vulture, it’s crucial to contact VulPro immediately. You should check the bird’s status (alive or dead), note its behavior and precise location (GPS coordinates if possible), take photos/videos, and stay with the bird until help arrives.
Their emergency contact numbers are usually available on their website and in their newsletters.
How can I support VulPro’s work?
There are a few ways to support VulPro:
- Donations: You can make direct financial contributions via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), Zapper, PayPal, or through their website’s donation portal.
- Adopt a Vulture: They often have an “adopt a vulture” program where your fee goes towards the care of a specific bird.
- Volunteer: VulPro offers unique hands-on volunteering opportunities at their facility and during field excursions.
- Shop/Other: They sometimes sell merchandise (like books) and participate in initiatives like MySchool MyVillage MyPlanet cards, where a portion of your everyday spending can support them.
Do they take volunteers, and what are the requirements?
Yes, VulPro welcomes volunteers from around the globe. They offer unique, hands-on experiences involving daily tasks at the center and participation in field excursions (like population surveys or power line inspections).
Requirements generally include enthusiasm, common sense, independence, perseverance, and a positive attitude. Volunteers are usually responsible for their travel to Johannesburg and self-catering at the facility. Specific details and application forms are available on their website.
What is VulPro’s biggest success story?
One of VulPro’s most significant successes, alongside other conservation efforts, is the improvement of the Cape Vulture’s conservation status from Endangered to Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List in 2021.
This rare achievement highlights the positive impact of long-term rehabilitation, captive breeding, research, and efforts aimed at mitigating threats. The return of wild Cape Vultures to areas like the Eastern Cape after decades is also a major highlight.
How does VulPro contribute to scientific research?
VulPro is a recognized research institution. They conduct extensive scientific work, including:
- GPS tracking of released and wild vultures to monitor movements, foraging ranges, and identify risk areas.
- Population monitoring of breeding colonies.
- Toxicology and disease research from admitted birds to understand the causes of mortality and health issues.
- They actively publish their findings in peer-reviewed journals (over 40 publications), contributing valuable data to global vulture conservation strategies.
Last Thoughts
Going into this, I knew very little about vultures. I see them as we hike along the Magalieberg, but don’t think much of them, assuming they are just another bird, only bigger.
Visiting VulPro opened my eyes to the role vultures play in the natural world and highlighted the importance of their protection. The work Alistair and his people are doing is essential.
Support the natural world and go and see what they are all about.
That’s it from me on the VulPro Revealed: The Unseen Heroes Cleaning Up Our World. This should give you a better idea of what to expect and may it inspire you to go and check them out.
Some Helpful Links
Rustenburg Hiking Trails – Link Coming Soon
Hartbeespoort Hiking Trails
Pretoria Hiking Trails
