SANParks.org Forums

Hi,

I would have a few questions regarding vultures in national parks in the frontier region (Addo, Mountain Zebra, Candeboo):
- which species can be seen and where?
- any species historically present which do not occur anymore? any known breeding spot (past and present)?
- is there any monitoring / research project undertaken on their possible return with increasing game - predator dynamics (at least at Addo and Moutain Zebra) ?
- is there any plan for setting up vulture restaurants ? e.g. so as to promote linkages between cape vulture populations (western cape - De Hoop nature reserve - and the drakensburg / highveld)??

Thanks in advance,

Joël

Hi Joel

I don't know too much about vultures, but having grown up in the area there are one or two things I do know:
1. There is an old breeding site (Cape Vultures) between Middleburg and Cradock near a farm called Tafelberg and I have heard that after a huge decline in the number of vultures at this site they are on the increase. I read an interesting article about a study which was conducted at this site and it was found that these birds travel hundreds of kilometers to Kruger and back to feed their chicks (but this was years ago!)
2. I have seen Cape Vultures in MZNP (four times) and AENP (once) - no others
3. These sightings are all fairly recent - within the last three years - despite having visited both MZNP and AENP since I was young
4. We have a farm in the area and have been seeing more and more Cape Vultures in the area in the past +/- 3 years. - a neighbour actually came across the remains of a Cape Vulture which had flown into powerlines on his farm two weeks ago - tragic!!
5. I presume this increase has something to do with the introduction of more and more apex predators in the Eastern Cape (in private reserves and SANParks)

I will leave the rest to the experts (I'm sure there is someone on the forum who can answer all your questions!)

Have never seen vultures in either Addo nor MZNP on our visits there.

There was a thread talking about vultures in Addo I will try and find it

Hi Joel and welcome to the forums!

Thanks BushFairy for that information.

The return of Cape Vulture to those areas is clearly good news for a threatened species endemic to southern africa.

Joël

PS: I'm waiting for your thread Micetta!

Joel, I have been looking for it, but cannot find it Maybe it was just a few posts in any thread talking about Addo and vultures.

Mct, and Joel, I think this is the topic Micetta is thinking of.

Thank you DB! might well have been, but it seems to old for me to have noticed it
Anyway it answers Noel's question

Thanks Dinkybirds.

Yet, it would interesting to have an update from sanparks.

Maybe, Megan could give us further information ?

Thanks in advance,

Joël