How a tiny miracle resulted in a conservation milestone
A small but significant conservation miracle occurred in the mid-1990s when a little bird turned around and landed on a giraffe, paving the way for a project to secure the future of wild vulture populations in southern Africa. The bird was a red-billed oxpecker, one of 52 relocated from the Kruger National Park to Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape.
When released they all flew directly north, back towards the Kruger until that one bird turned around. That moment marked the successful reintroduction of the red-billed oxpecker to the Eastern Cape. After the vast herds of game, once prevalent in the area were all but wiped out in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, oxpecker numbers declined. The use of arsenic-based dips for cattle sealed their fate and the species became extinct in the region.
Today the tiny birds are so common that visitors pay them little attention. The conservation team at Shamwari is now bringing back another species of bird which suffered the same fate as the oxpecker after the demise of the wild herds and the use of arsenic dip.
The process began when VulPro@Shamwari was established earlier this year and 163 Cape and African White-backed vultures were transported from VulPro’s facility near Hartebeespoort to bespoke enclosures at Shamwari. There are now eight enclosures, with another being built. These include an enclosure for injured birds that require constant attention and other rehabilitation facilities.
Another boasts an artificial cliff to provide optimal conditions for breeding pairs of Cape vultures. There is a White-backed enclosure and two for Lappet-faced vultures with a third being built. It was from the pre-release enclosure on high ground that the first Cape vultures were released and can now again be seen soaring in the skies of the Eastern Cape.
A pair of endangered African Egyptian Vultures have also recently arrived from facilities in the United States. Although the pair, which have grown up in captivity are not releasable, they will join the breeding programme. Ultimately future offspring will be released at Shamwari. Joe Cloete, Shamwari CEO said people often overlook the fact that birds are an inherent and vital part of conservation programmes and the health of their populations is indicative of success.
“We consider bringing back bird species as important as reintroducing the big five.” VulPro@Shamwari provides a safe well-balanced ecosystem for in-situ and ex-situ vulture conservation programmes. Shamwari’s anti-poaching unit ensures security.