24 September – A Lappet-faced Vulture chick hatched at Vulpro’s captive breeding facility at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape on 24 September, coinciding with South Africa’s Heritage Day. The vulture species is nationally Critically Endangered.
The birth of this marks the first successful hatching of the species at Vulpro and is being described as a significant step in the fight against extinction for one of Africa’s rarest raptors. With an estimated 180 breeding pairs left in the wild in South Africa, conservationists say every chick is vital for the survival of the species.
Captive breeding has proved especially difficult for Lappet-faced Vultures, with only a few facilities worldwide managing to produce fertile eggs that result in offspring.
Kerri Wolter, CEO of Vulpro, said the achievement underscores the urgency of ongoing conservation efforts. “The numbers are stark. Lappet-faced Vultures are among Africa’s most endangered raptors, and their breeding challenges make every success story vital. These magnificent birds are extremely anxious and sensitive creatures that take considerably longer to form pairs than other vulture species, making Vulpro’s achievement all the more remarkable.”
Genetic diversity essential
Unlike other vultures bred at the facility, the chick will not be released into the wild. Instead, it will remain part of Vulpro’s captive breeding programme to help establish a genetically diverse assurance population. Wolter said this is crucial to ensure a sustainable future for the species.
Vulpro is also calling for global collaboration among organisations working with Lappet-faced Vultures to create a coordinated captive population, with the long-term goal of building releasable populations to strengthen wild numbers.
The organisation credited its success to partnerships with Shamwari Private Game Reserve, Ingrid and Rudi Gerlo, Humane World for Animals South Africa, Gauntlet Conservation Trust, Land Rover – Defender, National Centre for Birds of Prey, Olsen Animal Trust, Tusk Trust, Zoo Zlin and Cincinnati Zoo.
READ: Historic Hooded Vulture nest confirmed in KwaZulu-Natal
