Birdlife Botswana launches campaign following poisoning of 1000 vultures

Birdlife Botswana says it will launch a new public campaign called "I want Botswana's Vultures ALIVE – not DEAD", in response to increasing vulture poisoning incidences, the latest of which killed an estimated 1,000 vultures.

This message will also be a wakeup call to the Ministry of Environment, Wildlife and Tourism and other anti-poaching agencies to help conservation societies in keeping Botswana's tourism intact and extend their focus from elephant and rhino poaching to note that poisoning of vultures maybe linked to elephant poaching.

The organisation, which is a BirdLife International partner in Botswana & member of the World Conservation Union, said this is the message it wants all Batswana to take to heart, and help the organisation in its efforts to reverse the decline facing Botswana's vultures.

Intentional and accidental poisoning are topmost threats to vultures in Botswana and over the years several incidences have been reported; for instance more than 250 were killed in Kwando (Ngamiland District) in May 2012.

A turning point in this crisis is that in July 2013, 400–600 dead vultures were found at a poisoned elephant carcass in Namibia's Caprivi Strip.

BirdLife is concerned that the loss of between 400-600 birds in this single incident will affect populations in the entire sub-region, including Botswana and should act as a catalyst for further action at a number of levels.

"This was an intentional attempt by poachers, who laced the carcass with a chemical to kill vultures, because vultures congregate around carcasses and are therefore often used by law enforcers as an indication of poaching activity", Dr Kabelo Senyatso, BirdLife Botswana's Director said.

"Given that this occurred during the breeding season, many of these birds would have been breeding, thus the total death toll when one considers eggs and chicks would most likely exceed 1,000 birds. Many of these would undoubtedly be "Botswana's birds" and thus as nation, we should be concerned about this development," he added.

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