Why the poisoning of vultures matters for biodiversity and public health

A recent mass poisoning event in South Africa’s Lowveld region has reignited urgent concerns over the future of Africa’s vultures.

Conservationists fear that unless immediate and coordinated action is taken, the continent could face localised extinctions of critical scavenger species—an outcome that would carry disastrous implications for both biodiversity and public health. 

According to We Wild Africa, the deliberate poisoning of vultures fits a growing and deeply concerning pattern observed across southern Africa. In past years, hundreds of vultures have been killed in similar incidents in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mozambique, and Tanzania. These events typically involve poachers lacing elephant or rhino carcasses with agricultural poisons such as carbofuran, aldicarb, methomyl, and strychnine to conceal illegal kills from anti-poaching patrols.

But why should the poisoning of wildlife matter to you? How does it affect us? Well, much more than you may think.  Vulpro and WeWild Africa spoke to IOL on the consequences of the mass poisoning - and why we should sit up and take notice.

Are poaching syndicates driving mass killings?

Vultures’ remarkable eyesight and their tendency to circle visibly above carcasses make them unintentional whistleblowers of poaching activity.

It is believed that as a result, they are being targeted by increasingly sophisticated and brutal methods. "This is not just about poaching anymore," said We Wild Africa's Wiki West. "These are strategic killings aimed at silencing nature’s alarm system."

In one of the worst recorded incidents in 2019, 537 vultures were killed in Botswana’s Chobe National Park. Similar episodes have been documented across the region, with mass deaths of vultures following poisoned elephant and rhino carcasses. The 2025 event in the Lowveld appears to be another iteration of this growing trend, although VulPro CEO Kerri Wolter cautioned, “Unfortunately we cannot confirm this as we simply do not know.”

The roles of muthi and traditional belief-based use

Beyond poaching, vultures are also believed to be targeted for belief-based practices.

The use of vulture parts in muthi (traditional medicine) is widespread in parts of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, and Mozambique. Vultures, especially their brains, are believed by some to provide clairvoyant powers, and are consumed or inhaled to bring luck, intelligence, or spiritual protection.

Studies cited by We Wild Africa show that 29% of traditional healers surveyed in South Africa use vulture parts, and the demand continues to rise—especially in urban markets. A 2013 study estimated that belief-based use could lead to the extinction of vultures in parts of southern Africa by 2050 if current trends persist.

How does this crisis affect people?

Wolter warned of dire ecological and human consequences if these trends continue. “Poisoning of wildlife is having a catastrophic impact on biodiversity. For vultures in particular, it is leading to mass declines and eventual localised extinctions,” she said. “With the removal of these incredibly important scavengers, disease outbreaks would wreak havoc.”

The Asian Vulture Crisis offers an alarming precedent. After vulture populations in India collapsed due to veterinary drug poisoning, feral dog populations exploded, causing a spike in rabies cases that led to over 30,000 human deaths annually and billions in public health costs.

West emphasised: “People often overlook the ecosystem services vultures provide. They are nature’s clean-up crew. Without them, carcasses linger, diseases spread, and the whole balance collapses.”

Future Risks in the Lowveld and Beyond

Looking ahead, both We Wild Africa and VulPro warn that 2025 could be a tipping point.

Repeat poisonings, especially during breeding season, could devastate entire colonies. Species like the White-headed and Lappet-faced vultures are already alarmingly scarce in recent poisoning events.

“Syndicates are becoming more calculated,” We Wild Africa noted, citing evidence of multi-site poisonings and the use of delayed-action toxins to prevent vultures from dying near the poisoned carcass—thus hiding the crime.

Beyond vultures, other scavengers such as lions, hyenas, jackals, and leopards are also at risk, though typically in smaller numbers.

What Needs to Be Done Now

Experts are calling for immediate logistical, financial, and legal interventions. Among the most pressing needs:

• Satellite Tracking: Equipping vultures with GPS/GSM devices has already proven effective in Botswana, Kenya, and Mozambique. Tagged vultures have led rangers to poisoning sites within 24 hours, drastically limiting further mortality.

• Community Involvement: In KwaZulu-Natal and Limpopo, local herders trained to report suspicious carcasses have helped prevent 14 poisoning events. A broader national campaign is urgently needed, We Wild Africa emphasised.

• Legal Reform and Enforcement: Many of the substances used are either banned or heavily restricted in other countries but remain available in informal South African markets. Elevating wildlife poisoning to a high-priority crime—backed by prosecutorial and forensic capacity—is critical.

• Creation of Vulture Safe Zones (VSZs): Inspired by successful models in India and Nepal, We Wild Africa is advocating for a “Lowveld Vulture Protection Corridor” spanning Kruger, Marloth, Lionspruit, and surrounding communities. These zones would unify chemical regulations, habitat protection, and public education.

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