Perceptions of vulture supplementary feeding site managers and potential hidden risks to avian scavengers

Abstract

Under the current African vulture crisis, supplementary feeding sites (SFS), which provide carrion resources, have become a popular conservation tool to address vulture declines. In South Africa, this practice is unregulated and the context in which SFS operate and their adherence to best management practices is currently unknown. In this study, we conducted a survey with SFS managers regarding the management of their SFS to evaluate potential conservation implications of different practices. Half of the SFS surveyed were associated with livestock farming. Overall, most managers (84%) perceived some benefit from running an SFS, largely attributed to cleaning services provided by vultures. Over half of the managers perceived no disadvantages from running SFS. We found a positive correlation between numbers of vultures seen at SFS and the amount of food provided there. Despite unintentional and intentional poisoning being identified by experts as the most critical threats to vultures in Southern Africa, only 47 and 24% of managers, respectively, listed these as potential threats to vultures, highlighting limited understanding of current vulture conservation issues. Most managers (85%) vetted carcasses for provisioning suitability based on whether they had been treated with veterinary drugs, but relatively few managers (10%) did the same for lead (Pb) contamination. Only 30% of managers considered threats to vultures when they decided on a location for their SFS. Overall, this study unveils that at many SFS, safety conditions are not met and vultures may be exposed to risks, such as the ingestion of toxic substances (e.g., Pb) or electrocution by energy infrastructure. To minimize unintended negative consequences from SFS, it will be essential to increase the interaction between SFS managers and conservation practitioners, to increase the flow of information on best management practices and enforce stringent and clear guidelines that minimize any risks to vultures.

Vulture poisoning in Sub-Saharan Africa and its implications for conservation planning: A systematic review

“…A combination of several strategies for policy, practice and future research could be useful in addressing the AVC. The future strategies to AVC should consider stakeholders’ needs and aspirations [ 87 ], to increase traction of the interventions by stakeholders through creation of direct incentives, such as income generation [ 28 , 29 , 88 ]. To guarantee successful conservation outcomes, there is a need to implement combined strategies by multiple stakeholders through collaborations.…”

“…While contemporary conservation efforts are critical to the vultures [ 2 ], African vultures, renowned for clean ups of the carcasses (i.e., an important sanitary ecosystem service for public and animal health) by feeding on the carrions of livestock, wildlife and other organisms [ 17 , 25 ], play an important role in disease transmission control to humans and among carnivorous scavengers [ 26 , 27 ]. Vultures also contribute to ecotourism-based incomes that are important to increasing community appreciation of vulture [ 28 , 29 ].…”

Old World Vultures Reflect Effects of Environmental Pollutants Through Human Encroachment

“…Vulture feathers are used for ceremonial purposes in southern Africa (Maphisa, 1997) and are associated with contemporary religious practices in North Africa (Batbayar et al, 2005). Supplementary feeding sites provide ecotourism benefits from people viewing and photographing vultures (Brink et al, 2020). There are documented threats to Old World vultures from numerous sources, including environmental contaminants, loss of habitat and changes in land use, reduced food availability, and climate-related changes.…”