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.

A Leverhulme Trust Study Abroad Studentship has allowed Louis Phipps to contribute to regional vulture research. A vulture restaurant has been established at Mankwe to provide a safe supply of food for the vultures, as well as a site to conduct important research. A walk-in capture cage is used to catch vultures and fit individual identification tags to each wing in order to study their ranging behaviour via re-sighting records. GPS tracking devices will also be used to directly follow the feeding, breeding and roosting behaviour of white-backed vultures in the area, greatly increasing the otherwise lacking knowledge about the local vulture population.

Additional research activities include conducting landowner questionnaires with local farmers to identify key areas for vulture activity, camera-trapping studies to assess competition from other scavengers, and behavioural observations at the vulture restaurant.

Louis Phipps is working towards an MSc in Veterinary Science at the University of Pretoria. The Leverhulme Trust funds the project via a Study Abroad Studentship.

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Vulture Project.













Vulture Project.












Vulture Project.