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South Africa supports several vulture species including the
globally threatened Cape Griffon vulture (Gyps coprotheres)
and the near-threatened White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus),
both of which are commonly seen at the vulture restaurant at
Mankwe.
Gyps
vultures are declining globally, largely as a result of habitat
loss, reduced food availability and persecution. A more recent
threat results from the use of the anti-inflammatory drug
diclofenac (a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID)) in cattle
herds, leading to poisoning of vultures feeding on treated
carcasses and causing the loss of more than 99% of individuals
of three species of vulture in India over the past 15 years.
Their decline as a significant scavenger has led to associated
changes within their environment and has had implications for
human health and diseases such as anthrax and rabies.
Recent research has shown that Gyps vulture species in
Africa are at least as sensitive to diclofenac toxicity as Asian
Gyps species. As diclofenac is now being imported into
Africa and recent satellite telemetry studies have shown that
Gyps vultures regularly cross borders over their extensive
foraging range, regional registration of veterinary diclofenac
in any Southern African country is likely to pose a significant
threat to all Gyps vultures in the region. It is
increasingly important, therefore, that we understand the
ranging behaviour and habitat utilisation of these species in
order to determine potential exposure to veterinary drugs and
other threats in the region, providing evidence to support a ban
on the marketing of diclofenac in Southern Africa.
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