Africa Creates Safe Havens to Rescue Endangered Vultures

Vultures are making a comeback in Southern Africa, thanks to a growing network of protected havens designed to keep these essential scavengers safe.

Since 2018, conservation groups have created multiple vulture safe zones across Botswana, South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Nigeria. These protected areas shield slow-breeding vultures from poisoning, power line collisions, and other threats that have pushed several species toward extinction.

South Africa's Tswalu Kalahari Reserve became the continent's model success story in 2019. The 282,000-acre safe zone covers reservoirs with nets to prevent drowning and bans lead ammunition that poisons birds feeding on carcasses.

"It really is, in many senses, a textbook vulture safe zone," says Linda van der Heever from BirdLife South Africa. The reserve now protects critically endangered white-backed vultures and other threatened species nesting within its boundaries.

The safe zone concept started in Nepal, where vulture populations crashed after the birds ate livestock treated with toxic anti-inflammatory drugs. Asian conservationists created poison-free zones spanning hundreds of thousands of acres, and vulture numbers started recovering.

African groups are now adapting this proven strategy to their continent's unique challenges. Vultures here range over enormous territories, requiring creative solutions to keep them safe across multiple countries and land types.

Some zones focus on protecting breeding colonies. Others safeguard roosting sites or feeding grounds where vultures gather.

The Ripple Effect

Protecting vultures creates benefits that ripple far beyond saving individual birds. These scavengers clean up animal carcasses, preventing disease spread and keeping ecosystems healthy for countless other species.

Conservation organizations are now working together to standardize how African safe zones operate and track vulture populations. This coordination will help them share what works and expand protection more efficiently.

Nearly a dozen safe zone projects already operate across Africa, each learning from the others. In Zambia, one protected area now spans 1.2 million acres.

While experts debate whether current zones are large enough or truly safe, the positive momentum is undeniable. More land comes under protection each year, and more organizations join the effort.

These safe havens represent hope for species that were heading toward extinction just years ago, proving that targeted conservation can turn the tide for even the most vulnerable wildlife.