ZooClub members doing their part for the conservation of the threatened Cape griffon vulture

Two ZooClub members, Botsisang Sebakeng and Karabo Seema informed aviators and other interested people about the findings of their groundbreaking research during International Vulture Awareness Day on 7 September.

Botsisang and Karabo, who recently won gold medals and a special prize for the best development project at the Northern Gauteng Eskom Expo for Young Scientists, and a bronze medal at the Eskom International Science Fair, did an investigation to determine if the Cape vultures of the Skeerpoort colony have a higher than normal lead concentration in their feathers. The Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) is listed as “Vulnerable” by the IUCN Red List.

The young researchers concluded that their results may indicate that the Cape griffon vultures are exposed to lead that may have come from ingested bullet fragments found in carcasses. This is another threat added to a long list of factors influencing the survival of these birds.

The Skeerpoort breeding colony has decreased to about 200 breeding pairs (Picture: Elize de Jager)		The Cape vulture is endemic to southern Africa, and is found mainly in South Africa, Lesotho, Botswana and in some parts of northern Namibia. It nests on cliffs and lays one egg per year (Picture: Tim Hempstead)

Botsisang and Karabo recommend that a more detailed study be conducted to determine the exact source of the lead and to better understand the impact that lead exposure may be having on the survival of Cape griffon vultures.

International Vulture Awareness Day

Karabo attended International Vulture Awareness Day at the Nyoka Vulture Restaurant with the aim of informing aviators and other interested people about the plight of the vultures and to share their recent discovery regarding possible lead poisoning. The International Vulture Awareness Days events were initiated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s Birds of Prey Working Group of South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England.

Karabo had an opportunity to talk about the importance of vulture awareness and conservation to the guests, which included Miss Earth South Africa 2013, Ashanti Mbanga and the Miss Earth South Africa runner-up, Thobile Mchunu		Karabo Seema attended International Vulture Awareness Day at the Nyoka Vulture Restaurant with the aim of informing aviators and other interested people about the plight of the Cape griffon vultures and to share the young researchers’ recent discovery regarding possible lead poisoning in the vultures

Karabo had an opportunity to give a talk about the importance of vulture awareness and conservation to the guests, which included Miss Earth South Africa 2013, Ashanti Mbanga and the Miss Earth South Africa runner-up, Thobile Mchunu.

By Belinda Mokhanda, NZG Intern