The Niassa Special Reserve has implemented a vulture monitoring system through fitting vultures with monitoring collars. Through this work, the team aims at reducing poaching by poisoning, as the vultures quickly get to the carcasses.
As a result of a partnership between WCS and Endangered Wildlife Trust, monitoring collars are being fitted to vultures in the Niassa Special Reserve. The vulture capture team is made up of biologists and researchers from the Wildlife Alliance, ecological monitoring technicians from Luwire and NSR management.
Niassa Special Reserve and Endangered Wildlife Trust technicians in the process of putting a collar on a vulture
By observing the movement of several collared vultures in the same place, the ecological monitoring team can act quickly to investigate whether the animal was killed by poisoning or by natural causes.
Vultures play a crucial role in the health of the environment, as well as preventing poaching. By feeding on carcasses, they eliminate the remains of dead animals that could contaminate soil and water. This natural cleansing helps prevent disease outbreaks that could affect other animals and even humans. In addition, vultures have unique adaptations, such as a digestive system that is highly resistant to pathogens, allowing them to consume decomposing meat without contaminating themselves.