South Africa’s Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has warned that mass vulture killings are pushing several species towards extinction and called on citizens to help protect the country’s remaining birds. Speaking ahead of the ninth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP9) to the African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbird Agreement (AEWA) in November 2025, the Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to making vulture conservation a national priority.
“This year alone, two mass poisoning incidents resulted in the deaths of hundreds of vultures,” Dr George said. “If these events continue unchecked, the loss of thousands of vultures could have devastating environmental and public health consequences.”
Once widespread across Africa, vulture populations have plummeted over the past three decades. Many birds die after feeding on poisoned carcasses — often left by poachers targeting elephants or rhinos, or by communities involved in human–wildlife conflict. Carcasses left to rot increase the risk of disease outbreaks, poor sanitation around rural settlements, rising stray dog populations and higher rates of human injuries and rabies fatalities.
South Africa is home to nine vulture species, seven of which breed locally. In March 2024, the government published the National Multi-Species Vulture Biodiversity Management Plan, which is now being implemented by the National Vulture Task Force and its subcommittees. The plan seeks to create a safe and secure environment for vultures by reducing poisoning, collisions with energy infrastructure and habitat loss, while improving stakeholder involvement, closing knowledge gaps and developing best-practice guidelines for off-site conservation.
The country is also part of a broader regional push. In early September, the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment joined SADC, the IUCN, BirdLife International and other partners at a regional workshop marking International Vulture Awareness Day. The event launched the SADC Vulture Conservation Strategy and Action Plan (2025–2035), which aims to mobilise collective action among 12 vulture range states through coordinated conservation, stakeholder engagement and data-driven decision-making.
The workshop highlighted both the threats to vultures — poisoning, collisions and electrocutions from energy infrastructure, and habitat loss — and the opportunities for cross-border collaboration to raise awareness, implement targeted actions and strengthen legislation to secure their future.
“Without decisive and coordinated action, several vulture species face the very real threat of extinction,” Dr George warned.
This hard-hitting call underlines that vulture conservation is no longer just an environmental issue but a public-health and social-impact priority.
