VULTURE PROGRAMME MONTHLY REPORT February 2015

Transcription

1 VULTURE PROGRAMME MONTHLY REPORT February 2015 MEETINGS Date Meet with Representing Purpose Project title/reference/purpose 16/02/2015 Rudi Kruger Eskom Discussion and confirmation of Eskom Eskom collaboration mitigating the power lines next door to VulPro. In addition, further discussions were had around VulPro assisting Eskom to undertake investigations and further research proposed at VulPro in collaboration with Eskom 17/02/2015 Pieter Tshwane Municipality Discussion on the mitigation of the smaller distribution structures around VulPro Tshwane Municipality collaboration 20/02/2015 Biship Ngobell and Johannesburg Zoo Collaboration on vulture display and Johannesubrg zoo collaboration. colleagues breeding for conservation purposes. 20/02/2015 Damian Boyce VulPro satellite station Discussion and final arrangements for the additional breeding and holding enclosures in Belfast at VulPro s satellite station VulPro s satellite station Media Ongoing media, awareness and exposure through Facebook as well as other social media throughout February; with almost 5000 followers on the one Facebook page and another 2000 on the group page. Date Media Publisher Purpose Comment 01/02/2015 SABC 3 Special Assignment Awareness Exposure and awareness on the vulture trade for muti use and its affect on vulture populations 02/02/2015 Beeindig die slagting Landbouweekblad Awareness Exposure and awareness to the plight of vultures 04/02/2015 Vultures and muti SABC news channel Awareness A live TV interview with Kerri Wolter and a traditional healer was undertaken live on TV. It was great exposure and very positive regarding changes needing to be made from the muti side of things and getting the support and by in from these traditional healers in support of protecting vultures. 12/02/2015 VulPro makes history Agriland Grocette s Mail in the Eastern Cape Platinum weekly Awareness Exposure through our press release on the captive bred vultures release.

2 Electricity and Control Landou Weekblad Farmer s weekly MiniMag 16/02/2015 CV colony established Pretoria News Awareness Additional media on the release of the captive bred released vultures. 20/02/2015 Free as a bird Platinum weekly Awareness Additional updates as to the release of the captive bred vultures at VulPro 24/02/2015 VulPro makes history Radio 702 Awareness A live radio interview was done with Sam Cowen regarding the release of the captive bred vultures at VulPro. 27/02/2015 Monte Helps vultures spread their wings CONSERVATION A. DIRECT ACTIVITIES Rehabilitation Fourways Review Awareness Exposure for both Monte Casino Bird Gardens and VulPro on the captive bred vultures being released and the support VulPro received from Monte bird gardens. Date MR Activity Follow up Comment Ref* 02/02/2015 Released a Spotted Eagle Owl at VulPro Monitoring for visual resightings Bird came in from another facility stressed and not happy to eat in captivity. The bird s condition was taken into account as well as its flight and we decided it would be best to release the bird to avoid additional stress which would further compromise the owl. 04/02/2015 One of the vultures, which came in during late January, was unfortunately euthanaised due to spinal injuries. N/A Unfortunately time did not heal the spinal injury in this bird and we had to end its suffering. 05/02/ Collected an inured Cape Vulture from Askari below the Nooitgedacht breeding colony Monitoring for release The bird had a slight broken spine, which has since healed, and the bird is now walking and flying It is being closely monitored for release.

3 08/02/ Collected a grounded Cape Vulture from Thabazimbi with an injured wing Monitoring for release 09/02/2015 Released 5 Cape Vultures at VulPro Monitoring for visual resightings and via tracking devices 10/02/2015 Released another 2 vultures at VulPro Monitoring for visual resightings and via tracking devices 13/02/2015 One of our released African White-backed vultures from a few months back was found dead, electrocuted under a staggered vertical near VulPro 18/02/ Collected a weak Cape Vulture from Thabazimbi N/A Monitoring for release The bird appeared to be dehydrated, stressed and a slight wing injury suspected from a collision with a fence. It is being fed up and monitored for release. The birds were released into the open top enclosure whereby they released themselves at VulPro and joined the wild birds. Some of these birds remain roosting at VulPro where some have left and joined the wild birds already. All birds however are doing well as they are being monitored. The birds were released into the open top enclosure whereby they released themselves. They are doing well and are being monitored during feeding at our vulture restaurant together with the wild birds feeding. Since this incident, we have had follow up meetings with Eskom and the municipality and all power lines running next door to and around VulPro will be made safe with the support and involvement of both Eskom and the Municipality. The vulture has a slight limp and is being fed up in preparation for its release. 19/02/ Collected a Yellow-billed Kite which was knocked down by a vehicle and suffered concussion 21/02/ Collected an injured African White-backed vulture from Kimberley 28/02/ Collected an injured adult Cape Vulture from Skeerpoort with a dislocated leg Monitoring for re-sightings N/A Prognosis is guarded The bird was treated for a mild concussion, fed, rehydrated and released 5 days later successfully. Due to the severity of its wing injury caused from a power line collision, the bird will remain in captivity in the open top enclosure for breeding purposes. The bird has a very badly dislocated leg that we have already tried three times to fix. We are still trying but prognosis is guarded at this stage.

4 Captive Breeding Date Project title Project centered at Comment 15/02/2015 Captive breeding VulPro 10 Captive bred Cape Vultures, 7 from VulPro and 3 from the National Zoological Gardens were released at VulPro, into the open top enclosure for the birds to join the wild birds when they feel ready to do so. Each bird is being monitored visually by means of wing tags as well as electronically with tracking devices. Research Date Project title Project centered at 1-10 February Testing of wing mounts on VulPro 2015 vultures using PTT tracking devices 2-5 February February Comment VulPro in collaboration with the RSPB are testing various harness designs for vulture tracking purposes with specific emphasis on the captive bred vultures bred and ready for release in India. VulPro has fitted various wing mount designs and backpack harnesses to both captive bred and rehabilitated Cape and African White-backed vultures at VulPro which have now been released and are been closely monitored by both teams. Carprofen Trial VulPro VulPro has been involved in numerous projects on the testing of NSAIDs and their affects to vultures. Carprofen is another NSAID which is suspected to be safe and thus, in collaboration with the University of Pretoria s faculty of Vet Sciences and the RSPB, VulPro is undertaking a safety trial in which we hope to prove a second NSAID is safe for use in vultures and the treatment of animals in which vultures could potentially be exposed to in their feeding chain. This project has global importance and global repercussions to all vulture species across the globe. There are multiple phases in this study in order to make it as safe as possible for the vultures being used. February 2015 Re-sightings Southern Africa Ongoing monitoring and updating of the vulture re-sighting database. February 2015 Vulture restaurant database Southern Africa The database is updated regularly to include all known feeding sites. Education & Training Date Activity Project title Project centered at Comment 04/01/2015 Farmer s talk Awareness and education Eastern Cape: Steysberg Kate Webster gave a talk on behalf of VulPro to the farmers during their farmers association meeting. Vulture books entitled Let vultures soar were handed out and a total of 45 farmers were

5 reached with positive feedback and a donation towards vulture conservation given by the Association. 06/02/2015 Tour Awareness and education VulPro A small group of 2 guests toured the Centre. 07/02/2015 Tour Educational & awareness VulPro A small group of 2 guests toured the Centre. 10/02/2015 Educational talk Educational Eastern Cape; Dodrecht Kate Webster gave a talk to Brosterlea Garden club & farmers whereby a total of 23 guests attended the talk on vultures and their importance in the Eastern Cape. 11/02/2015 Educational tour Educational VulPro Two overseas visitors toured the Centre. 14/02/2015 Educational talk Awareness and educational Buffelspoort Valley A talk was given to the Buffelspoort Valley conservancy whereby 40 people attended the talk and learnt about the work VulPro is undertaking and the reasons to protect our vultures. 21/02/2015 Tour Education VulPro A group of 2 people toured the Centre. 26/02/2015 Educational tour Awareness VulPro A family of 4 toured the Centre. 27/02/2015 Educational tour Awareness and VulPro A group of 4 visited and toured the education 28/02/2015 Kids Griffons club Education and involvement Administration Collection of donated carcasses Vehicle and maintenance of both VulPro vehicles Ongoing treatment and care of vultures and birds of prey at VulPro. Fundraising Report writing Administration Vulture restaurant feeding at the Vulture Centre Facebook updates Website updates Maintenance Management of volunteers Management of the vulture hide and bookings VulPro Centre. We had our third club meeting and a total of 15 kids including adults came through and participated in the painting activities at VulPro.

6 Management of students Write up of seminar proceedings and minutes Management of HR issues Management of VulPro as a whole Management and co-ordination of vulture research Hide Bookings 11/02/ Rachel Ellen 18/02/ Anthony Wilson 21/02/ Andre Grundlingh 23/02/ Dilo and friends