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To facilitate and expedite a ban on diclofenac use in livestock, a survey was initiated by the RSPB to identify a NSAID, of relatively low toxicity to vultures, which could be used in its place. A questionnaire on the use of NSAIDs by vets at zoos and wildlife centres identified meloxicam as the potential alternative to diclofenac. Studies were subsequently conducted in South Africa to establish the tolerance of the AWBV to meloxicam. A four-phased study approach was used. The tolerance of meloxicam was initially titrated in 24 captive, non-releasable AWBV under experimental housing conditions using a sequential 3-phased, unbalanced, two-armed, parallel study design.
During phases I through III 8 vultures each were randomly allocated to meloxicam (n=5) and water treated groups (n=3). A single dose of meloxicam was administered orally by gavage and increased step-wise, starting at 0.5 mg/kg (recommended clinical dose) to 1 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg during each phase, respectively. The highest dose was based on the worst-case scenario of a bird being exposed to the maximum possible residues present in meat or offal. In residue analysis this maximum was found to be in the liver of calves, slaughtered 8 hours after a 5 day treatment course (at 0.7 mg/kg o.i.d. i.m.) and equates to a maximum exposure in vultures of 8.54 mg meloxicam per kg meal or a potential dose of 1.55 - 1.89 mg/kg for an average sized AWBV.
No signs of toxicity were observed in any vultures treated with meloxicam at all dose levels during phases I to III. The results were subsequently confirmed in Phase IV in 28 wild-caught and 14 non-releasable birds, with no history of exposure to NSAIDs, at the highest dose of 2 mg/kg. All vultures were monitored frequently for clinical signs of toxicity and blood was collected at various intervals to determine the haematological profiles, thromboxane, uric acid and meloxicam concentrations. Serum uric acid levels were within the range of the normal birds for the entire study. None of the birds had detectable levels of meloxicam for any time point. With the drug appearing safe to AWBV at a single dose up to 2 mg/kg, a small group of Asian vulture were similarly exposed to the highest without any severe side effects being noted.
Although the initial part of the study confirmed the safety of the formulation, the safety of residues in cattle carcasses still needed to be determined especially since studies in people have shown some metabolites to be toxins. To rule out the metabolites as a source of toxicity 6 AWBV were exposed on two occasions to a dose of either meat or liver, rich in residues, obtained from cattle sacrificed following a 5 day course of meloxicam at double the registered Indian dose. From this study we were able to show no ill effects in any of the vultures. Although the birds appeared reluctant to consume the liver, in which the drug was found at the highest concentrations, the one bird that did consume the entire liver was still exposed to a lower dose than 2mg/kg. This research project has to date shown meloxicam to be a vulture safe drug as both the pure drug in formulation and more importantly as residues in cattle carcasses. In an attempt to increase the knowledge on meloxicam our current efforts are aimed at determining the reasons for its higher safety factor in comparison to diclofenac. Studies being undertaken include therapeutic drug monitoring, the effect on thromboxane activity, the drug’s relative oral bioavailability and elucidating the vulture specific metabolic pathway(s).
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They were acquired from an immigrant with the object of breeding. Although there was a certain amount of fighting in the beginning, the birds now seem to have settled down. As an experiment we divided the birds into groups of a) One female – Two males, b) Two males - Two females. We are endeavouring to acquire some more birds, but this is difficult and expensive. Obviously we are trying to breed. This is such a slow process, that we have lots of time to decide what to do about potential offspring. We will probably accumulate more birds for at least ten years in order to preserve.
We are members of the Mabula Ground Hornbill Group, and are also in touch with reputable breeders locally and abroad.
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We experiment with our cheetah population by having them in different enclosures and in different denominations, such as one on one, two male with one female, two males and two females, and two males and four females running loose in a fairly large enclosure of about 50ha. We have already successfully bred and reared cheetahs under all different scenarios, which is contrary to the “expert” information on these rare and beautiful animals.
With the limited gene pool available world wide, we concentrate on exchanging animals locally and internationally, and thus obtaining a geographical diversity.
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A chick was brought to us after having been rescued from a fence. We hand reared the bird until maturity and bought a male with the object of breeding, although we have serious reservations. As both birds were hand reared and totally imprinted, we do not foster high hopes, but can also not release the birds.
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We bought most of our Blue Cranes from the same person who sold us the Ground Hornbills, but some from local Zoo’s. At the moment we have four breeding pairs, all in different enclosures, and of which had already laid eggs.
Once again the object is to increase the population, but eventually these could possibly be released, as the chicks are left to grow up with the parents, rather than having them hand reared.
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We have a pack of 20 wild dogs and only breed these on demand, i.e. if somebody requires wild dogs we will specially breed for this institution / person, subject to necessary permits by Nature Conservation.
The rest of the time we keep our females on contraceptives.
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Although termed as endangered, there are plenty available in captivity, and they can easily be released, which is what we will do, numbers permitting.
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Information on this project is coming soon
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We have a pair of these highly endangered Central African specie, but as the male is three years from maturity, our first priority is to look after their well being. We have facilities for approximately six of these animals and will accumulate until this number is reached, before we will decide what to do with future breeding. This project should take ten years before decision time.
Did you know that the pygmy hippopotamus is an endangered species? Hope you said yes, because sadly – they are.
Do you know what the group or collective noun for hippo’s are? Well, it’s a bloat of hippopotami.
Humphrey Junior came to live on the Reserve about 5 months ago, now a very social, happy little creature who loves human interaction and LOVES a treat of cashew nuts! He lives just outside the Croc Pub and has a big dam in which to wallow.
A male pygmy hippopotamus is known as a bull, a female as a cow, and a baby as a calf. They are nocturnal herbivores. The bulk of a pygmy hippo's diet consists of ferns, broad-leaved plants, 
and fruits.
Pygmy hippos have the same unusual sweat as common hippos, that gives a pinkish tinge to their bodies, and is sometimes described as "blood sweat" though the secretion is neither sweat nor blood. The highly alkaline substance is believed to have antiseptic and sunscreening properties. The skin of hippos dries out quickly and cracks, which is why both species of hippos spend so much time in water. Pygmy hippos mate and give birth on both land and water. Young pygmy hippos can swim almost immediately. When they are newly born, the weigh about 5 to 6Kg’s and males weigh a little more. They will be fully weaned between 6-8 month of age.
The greatest threat to the remaining pygmy hippopotamus population in the wild is loss of habitat. The forests in which pygmy hippos live have been subject to settling and conversion to agriculture. As forests shrink, the populations become more fragmented, leading to less genetic diversity in the potential mating pool.
Many folktales have been collected about the pygmy hippopotamus. One tale though says that pygmy hippos carry a shining diamond in their mouths to help travel through thick forests at night; by day the pygmy hippo has a secret hiding place for the diamond, but if a hunter catches a pygmy hippo at night the diamond can also be taken.
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Vulture Programme's Sponsors
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Lomas Wildlife Protection Trust |
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Tusk Trust |
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Tony & Lisette Lewis Foundation |
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Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) |
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Vulture Programme’s Partners
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Endangered Wildlife Trust |
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De Wildt Cheetah & Wildlife Trust |
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Gauteng Agribulture, Conservation and Environment (GDACE) |
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North West Nature Conservation |
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WESSA |
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National Zoological Gardens of SA |
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Prof. Steven Piper |
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