The Southern African Bearded Vulture - Gypaetus barbatus - is currently endangered and likely to go extinct! The past century saw a drastic decline in numbers and range. Originally common throughout Lesotho, the Free State, Eastern Cape Province and KwaZulu-Natal (along the Maloti-Drakensberg mountains), the Bearded Vulture now only breeds and forages across a fraction of its original range. Current population estimates are in the region of 100 breeding pairs, down from over 200 pairs 25 years ago! Were it not for the efforts of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, it would probably already be extinct.

Standing 1 m tall and with a wingspan of over 2.5 m, this Monarch of the sky is a truly magnificent bird. The southern African sub-species is similar to the Ethiopian Bearded Vulture but smaller than the European and Asian sub-species. Ironically, the plight of "our" Bearded Vulture mirrors the historic plight of its European cousins which were hunted and eventually eradicated from the Alps due to its reputation for "attacking lambs and small children", hence its German moniker of Lammergeier. Following a lengthy and expensive captive breeding and release initiative, the European Bearded Vulture flies again today, with around 100 breeding pairs in the wild.

As we speak there are discussions underway with regards to the establishment of captive breeding populations in South Africa, so that we can restore the Bearded Vulture to wild if it goes extinct. The alternative would be that we would have to source birds from Ethiopia which I find totally ironic. How is it possible that South Africa population is disappearing whilst the Ethiopian species isn't?

Over the past decade, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has lead a world class project aimed at developing a better understanding of this species and supporting its conservation. Since 2007 they have been using satellite tracking devices to track individual birds. In addition to demonstrating the amazing foraging range of these birds, this exercise has also provided critical insight into the threats which they face, as the tracking devices have allowed for injured and dead birds to be recovered. Unfortunately, it is increasingly obvious that our Monarch faces a number of challenges, including injuries sustained through collision with power lines, starvation and poisoning. It is also clear that whilst the Ukhahlamba-Drakensberg World Heritage area provides critical roosting habitat for these birds, their foraging range is far larger and thus they will continue to succumb to these threats, suggesting that we are going to be forced to supplement the wild population with captive bred birders sooner or later.

A potential death knell for our Monarch could actually be one of the "icons" of the green movement, namely alternative energy. Lesotho is in the final stages of authorising the establishment of a massive wind turbine plant in the heart of Bearded Vulture foraging territory. The company involved has already acknowledged that their development will have collateral impact on these vultures, i.e. they will be chopped out of the sky. In South Africa, the Bearded Vulture's conservation status would force these project developers to find an alternative site, even if it was less "viable". Unfortunately, whilst the Lesotho Government is sympathetic, they are explicit that the nett social and economic impacts of this project far outweigh its potential nett negative impact on our Monarch. Thus the project will (most likely) proceed. Let me know what you think - andrewventer.wordpress.com.