Vulture census takes flight with aerial survey

An aerial survey of the vulture population in the western Namib - from the Swakop River in the north to the Namibrand area in the south - will be conducted late this month.

Puma Energy Namibia is sponsoring the aviation fuel for two aircraft for this important scientific study, which takes place along plotted routes for a total of 22 hours over the four days of the survey.

At the handing over of the fuel, general manager Adell Samuelson said: “The vulture population survey is important for the conservation of Namibia’s wildlife. It is through surveys like these that the endangered vulture population can be tracked and studied. As Puma Energy, we are pleased to be able to support wildlife conservation".

She expressed hope that this effort will raise further awareness of the threats to - and conservation of - these majestic birds.



Huge distances

Peter Keil, managing director of Skycore Aviation which is sponsoring the use of two surveillance aircraft, said Puma Energy has been an invaluable partner over the past five years, contributing significantly to the efforts of the Vultures Namibia project, which is a totally private initiative. Puma Energy’s sponsorship, given the high cost of aviation fuel, makes it possible for the project to cover huge distances by plane.

The survey, undertaken with a research permit from the environment ministry, will be supervised by ministry officials.

Peter Bridgeford, a retired nature conservation official, was a key initiator of the Vultures Namibia project in 1991. He said the project started its aerial surveillance in the early 2000s.

In good years, between 80 and 100 breeding pairs could be detected in the area, but since the drought in 2021, only about 40 breeding pairs have been counted per year. This is due to the absence of enough food, such as carcasses of oryx and zebra, which means the birds have to fly very far for food.

Vultures play a major role and a critical part in Namibia’s wildlife system, but bird numbers have dwindled drastically due to poaching, poisoning and other threats from commercial farming.



Lappet-faced vulture

The lappet-faced vulture is particularly endangered. This species is important as these birds are capable of opening carcasses of deceased animals with their large beaks, so that smaller birds of prey can also reach the food source.

Lappet-faced vultures’ breeding areas are concentrated in the targeted area of the survey. They occupy existing nests and also build new nests in the area every year. The fledglings remain in their nests for about five months after hatching until they are ready to fly themselves. Female adults only lay one egg per year, and both parents support the youngster in turn.

Because vultures have to fly far for food, such as over farmland, they unfortunately get caught in the ‘crossfire’ between farmers who try to get rid of ‘problem animals’ such as jackal, Bridgeford said. Poisoning remains the main threat and current research focuses on the different types of poisoning.

The survey is carried out by aircraft due to the vast stretches of the targeted area. While flying at a safe altitude, chicks in nests in trees are identified. The nests are always in the upper part of trees and are easily identifiable.

The locations of the occupied nests are logged by means of their GPS positions. Using this information, the ground team can reach them by vehicle to carry out further research. Scientific data is collected from the young vultures. The birds are tagged and ringed, and blood samples are collected.

After this, the chicks are carefully placed back in their nests. Some larger vulture chicks will be fitted with satellite trackers, which will provide very valuable scientific data.

Tagged birds have been identified and reported by tour guides and tourists from as far afield as the Kavango regions, which adds additional valuable information to the research data.