Vulture Facts
A vulture is an easily recognisable large bird with its bald head, neck & hooked bill. It feeds on dead carcasses and soars majestically in the sky. Vultures are easily seen in the R&L Nature Reserve, because of the presence of a well managed vulture restaurant, which attracts birds from many kilometres away. The restaurant is one of the parks conservation actions aimed at making food available in an environment where the food source has been declining for decades due to land use changes. Vultures may be seen at the restaurant, perched on electrical pylons or circling overhead.

Humans have made astonishing advances in technology and communication in recent years, however we are dangerously close to losing valuable species on our continent due to ignorance and mismanagement, the vulture being one of those species. Today vultures face major threats, including poisonings, habitat destruction, drowning in farm reservoirs, powerline electrocutions, illegal collection for traditional medicine and more recently, the killing and use of vultures for predicting the lotto numbers.

More catastrophic has been the decline of vultures on the Indian sub-continent, where some species have gone from common to critically endangered within the last 12 years, a 98% catastrophic crash. The culprit, a pharmaceutical drug recently introduced for livestock use in India, has proved to be fatal to vultures feeding on carcasses with diclofenac (Voltaren) residues. The R&L Nature Reserve’s Vulture programme is, together with partners Veterinary Faculty, University of Pretoria, and wBR/National Zoological Gardens, playing an important role in investigating drug residue on vultures and vulture foraging ranges in southern Africa.

The Cape Vulture (Cape Griffon) is endemic to southern Africa. They are in decline and therefore classified as vulnerable in the Red Data Book. The Magaliesberg mountain range has two large breeding colonies of Cape Vultures (Nooitgedacht and Skeerpoort) and it is probably these vultures that frequently visit the R&L vulture restaurant. Cape Vulture Measurements: Body Length: 1,1 m; Wingspan: 2,5 m; Weight: 7-11 kg. Please assist us by filling in the questionnaire provided. Proudly sponsored by Rand Merchant Bank, Computer Facilities, the Brits Rotary Club, E. Oppenheimer & Son PTY Ltd and Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation.

Questionaire
Please assist us in the conservation of the Cape Vulture by filling in the following information. Check vultures wings for tag with ID number, while perched (top of wing) or soaring (wing underside). Visit the Vulture Restaurant at the R&L Park for the best chance at viewing vultures.

	Restaurant Soaring Power-Lines Other- Please Specify Number of Vultures : Time of Day : Tagged Vultures: Tag Numbers: Species - if identifiable:           Your Email Address:   This questionnaire will be mailed to: Kerri Wolter, Manager, Vulture Programme, Rhino & Lion Wildlife Conservation NPO. 082-808-5113 Please contact Kerri Wolter if you would like to assist with this conservation programme.