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TELEMETRY
Satellite telemetry - REST is very fortunate to have been the first in Africa to fit satellite telemetry to a vulture. While exciting, this was also a bit scary and we thank in particular, Bill Woodley from Israel, for his support in the design of our harness. We found that Microwave Telemetry from the USA has developed a superior satellite telemetry unit and their customer service is fantastic. We began this program in January 2004 and to date have fit 10 vultures with telemetry. Currently only 6 birds have units fitted. The data coming in is much better than we ever anticipated. We gather approximately 5-8 direct locations a day. The information is downloaded to Argos in France and sent to REST via the Internet. Once the units were fitted we began discovering information never believed possible. We have now found that at least one and probably 3 of our adult male Cape Griffons are possibly interbreeding with female white backed vultures. We believe the original population became so low and with only two females of eight adult birds, the males found mates in their cousin - the white backed vulture.
One bird has crossed Namibia’s border 3 times - she has traveled to Angola a number of times - once 400 km inland - and traveled across to Botswana and Zambia, even venturing along the borders of Zimbawe and South Africa.
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Identification/Tracking
Via photographic observation of the colony at the Waterberg plateau park and at rotational vulture restaurants within the Cape Griffon's foraging range, we create 'vulture passports' to provide positive identification.
Passports - when REST began our conservation program it was believed that only 3 Cape Griffons were still alive in Namibia. We immediately began documenting and photographing all sightings. By noting the color patterns on the inside and outside of the wings (a technique used successfully with the California Condor) we were able to determine that Namibia had at least 8 adult birds and one immature bird. In the last five years we believe that the population has increased by one pure blooded bird a year and so far the last five years chicks have survived. We continue to take pictures of each bird seen and this has been made possible by donations from Hal Stein and Ned and Diana Twining who donated funds for a Nikon digital d100 camera which takes fantastic pictures. We also received a donation of an external hard drive in order to store and protect the thousands of pictures taken.
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Captures
Jorg Diekmann has designed what is probably the most successful capture aviary in the world. To date, REST has captured over 800 vultures. This has been key for fitting our satellite telemetry and almost 600 birds have been ringed. Ringing allows us to differentiate between individual birds. Interestingly enough we thought the one disadvantage to feeding weekly is that we would habituate the wild birds to feed at our site. With ringing, we have discovered that the visiting rate is in fact very low and most birds continue with their natural foraging. A paper is in preparation on this subject as it goes against all previous hypotheses.
Metamorphic Data
The capture programme has allowed and facilitated the collection of the largest bank of metamorphic measured information of free-flying vultures in Africa. In addition REST has compiled a collection of DNA samples from free-flying adult birds that will be used by partner researchers for tests ranging from parasite identification to anthrax immunity studies.
Hybridization
No one believed REST when founder, Maria Diekmann, started reported sightings of unusually marked vultures - half cape griffon and half white backed vulture. During our second capture of capes to fit satellite telemetry, one of these suspected 'hybrids' was not only seen but captured. She became, teabag, sponsored by Ned and Diana Twining. DNA was taken and permits have been applied for to send the samples to Juan Jose Negro an expert in Spain. With her fitted telemetry, 9 month old teabag flew back to sky bankers nest leading us to believe that she was his chick. On 25 April 2004 she was kicked off the nest presumably because they began to lay a new egg. She had many long distance and interesting flights before dying close to rest on 1 January 2005. Unfortunately her autopsy was inconclusive, but it appears as if she died of poisoning. Last year the chick from the same parents was predated by a tawny eagle. This years bird seems to be fine. He or she hatched on the 6 July 2005 and has been monitored by air on a weekly basis. DNA samples have recently been taken.
Reintroduction Programme
The bulk of the reemaining Cape Griffon vulture population (some 5 000- 7 000 individuals) is mainly found in South Africa. REST has teamed up with the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust to focus on the reintroduction of the Cape Griffon vulture back into its Namibian range. This is the first time that such an introduction has been tried in Southern Africa. To date, 16 birds that were admitted to De Wildt for minor rehabilitation and subsequently deemed 100% fit for release were flown flown to REST in 2004.
These birds were held at REST in a release aviary for over a year in order to acclimatise them. Three of the birds are captive bred but have been kept with the wild releasable birds for behavioural socialisation. The birds were held in the same location as the feeding site to form bonds with the wild birds in the area. This feeding site faces the Waterberg cliffs, the only suitable natural habitat for the vultures in the area.
Finaly on 23 October 2005, 14 of the De Wildt vultures were released back into the wild. All the birds were ringed and two were fitted with the satellite tracking device. Unfortunately within the first month two of the birds were recovered dead. One had drowned in a farm reservoir and it is suspected after a full autopsy that the second birds healed wing (it had been broken) was not strong enough for full flight. The remaining birds with satellite telemetry are doing well and those with just bands are occasionally being spotted around the country. The De Wildt team is preparing the next batch of birds for delivery to REST in 2007.
Diclofenac Testing
REST was proud to be a part of a major test trying to find an alternative to the veterinary drug, Diclofenac, which appears to have killed tens of millions of vultures in India and Pakistan in the last decade. Sacred cattle in these countries are injected with the drug for various aliments and the drug has been found to be fatal to vultures. Dr. Lindsey Oaks from the Peregrine Fund discovered the association and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) joined with the University of Pretoria and De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Centre on finding an alternative drug that could be marketed for use in cattle. Testing began on captive birds in South Africa and REST was tasked with capturing wild vultures for the fourth phase of the test in March of 2005. The team came to REST, we caught and tested and the birds were all released a week later with no effects or residues. The success of this project has been taken up by the Indian government and Diclofenac is being banned and the new drug subsidized.
Calcium Deficiency
This is a long debated topic. One theory is that large predators have been taken off of much of southern Africa’s land. These lions, hyena and others used to break up the bone which was then consumed by vultures in order to supply calcium for egg laying and bone development of chicks. REST supported a local conservation student in a basic research project which is hoped to be furthered by other students. What was discovered is that during the preparations for the breeding season, vultures consumed a large amount of broken bone material set out for them. Sometimes this bone was even eaten before meat was consumed.
Individual Identification
In late 2006, REST teamed up again with the Birds of Prey Working Group of the Endangered Wildlife Trust. We fitted 58 individual patagial tags into one wing of each White backed vulture. Hopefully the continuous monitoring of the REST feeding site will help determine if these wing tags can be used as an alternative to colour bands on the legs.
Surveys
Detailed surveys and analysis of vegetation and bush density will be conducted by Dr John Mendlesohn. This will be linked to our annual aerial, population trend and density surveys to provide a greater understanding of the links between the environment and our vulture programme.
New Research
Namibian Poison and Vulture Awareness Campaign
The goal of the Poison and Vulture Awareness Campaign is to formulate and apply existing information on the use of poisons and alternative methods for problem animal control, and to format this information into a working national monitoring system. This system incorporates strong cooperation between conservation, land management, business groups and the development of resources and people. The campaign is funded by UNDP GEP Small Grant Scheme.
REST's current assesment is that poisons are having the largest single fatal impact on raptors and scavengers. To date this is only speculation, as there are no inventories of any of the over the counter poisons that can be bough at most feed and farmer stores.
Poison use has become both a socially and economically acceptable option in Namibia, and it is believed that most land managers use poison as a quick solution to problem animal management. The discontinuation of poison use will only occure when:
- Poison use is monitored on a national level
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- Educational objectives are achieved by informing land use managers of the negative impact of poison use in both the short and long term.
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- Objectives are achieved by providing farmers with safe, effective and inexpensive alternatives to poison, such as noise and scent collars that can be made locally. This has the added benefit of stimulating local job opportunities and providing more locally made products.
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New Research for Scientific Papers
During 2006 and 2007 the following two research programmes will be conducted with REST for publication in scientific papers :
- Initial research on anthrax immunities in vultures - Dr Peter Turnball
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- DNA analysis of the hybrid birds - Cape Griffon and White-backed vultures - Dr Juan Jose Negro (SP)
In addition the initial data collection for parasite research will be carried out.
Broadening the Research Portfolio
By 2008 REST will have broadened the Portfolio of rare and endangered species research and support to include three additional species :
- African Wild/Painted Dog
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- Pangolin
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- Dwarf Python
REST will identify conservation specialists for each of these species and invite them to become involved in a long term research and education programme.
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