VulPro

There are many great conservation organizations which have taken up the mantle of conserving Africa's most unloved birds.  Perhaps the most prominent of these is VulPro, a South African organization which declares its intent to be "the leading vulture conservation programme for advancing knowledge, awareness and innovation in the conservation of African vulture populations."  That's an ambitious task and requires a multi-faceted campaign.  Fortunately, VulPro seems to be up to the challenge.

If there is a way to get involved int he conservation of African vultures, VulPro is on it.  They do local education programs for South African children, teaching them the importance of vulture conservation, as well as what to do if they find an injured vulture (they've also produced a children's book, Grumpy and Loon, available on their website.  They do studies on the status of wild colonies, as well as veterinary research on vulture illness and treatment, producing several scholarly papers on the subject.  They take in injured birds for rehabilitation, releasing them back into the wild.  Birds that cannot be successfully released join VulPro's highly successful captive-breeding colony, where chicks are produced which can, in turn, be released back into the wild.

Despite their historic omnipresence, very few scientists have taken the time to really track where vultures go and what they are doing.  One of the coolest features of the VulPro site is its vulture tracking program.  Visitors to the website can choose from several vultures that the team has trapped, tagged, and released, then track the progress of the bird as it crosses countries.  Seeing first hand how these birds fly hundreds of miles across international borders is a sobering reminder of how the conservation of these majestic birds isn't a problem that can be tackled by a single country - it needs to be an international effort.

The journeys of African white-backed vulture Tag 380, as shared on VulPro's website

VulPro is supported in its conservation efforts by several zoos and aquariums, and has partnered with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums for the Saving Animals from Extinction campaign for African vultures.  If you work with a zoo that houses any of the African vulture species, whether or not you are a member of AZA, you should strongly consider partnering with this amazing organization.  If you are just interested in vultures (and why wouldn't you be?), you can learn more at their website, linked below.

VulPro