A new vulture hide designed to support the conservation of endangered vultures in the southern Drakensberg has been opened to the public. Located 8km from Underberg, the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide launched on February 19, and consists of a Vulture Safe Feeding zone and viewing hide.
The hide has been fitted with one-way glass designed for clear photography and allows up to six guests to view and photograph the vultures as well other birds.
The hide’s mountainous backdrops, comfortable seating, darkened windows and a few electrical plug points for recharging camera batteries and phones, make for an enjoyable experience for bird-watchers, while educational material ensures that visitors gain a better understanding of conservation and wildlife in the region.
The funds raised through visitor bookings are used to keep the Vulture Safe Feeding Site and hide operational.
The southern Drakensberg is a stronghold location for two of South Africa’s cliff-nesting species of vulture – the Bearded Vulture and Cape Vulture.
“As such, it is essential for conservation initiatives to be spearheaded in this region, aimed at preserving and protecting this crucial population of endangered birds,” project leaders Wildlife ACT said in a press release.
The hide is at the foot of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park, which is a World Heritage Site and one of the five largest protected areas in South Africa.
A collaborative conservation partnership
The hide and feeding site form part of Wildlife ACT’s southern Drakensberg Conservation Project and has been made possible through a collaborative effort with Riverlea Farm.
Important partners include Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Project Vulture, the Drakensberg Conservation Initiative, the Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme and the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Additional support has been provided by Invicta Wildlife, CHEP, the European Outdoor Conservation Association and local Underberg farmers.
The importance of vulture conservation in the region
Vultures are nature's clean-up crew, scavenging and disposing of animal remains that could otherwise become breeding grounds for disease. By swiftly recycling organic matter, vultures help prevent the spread of illnesses that could affect both humans and animals.
Numbers across Africa are in rapid decline and the vultures’ ranges have decreased by up to 70%. Of the six vulture species that occur in South Africa, all are either vulnerable, endangered, or critically endangered.
“Despite being critical to our ecosystems, vulture numbers are in serious decline, with only 50 to 100 breeding pairs of Bearded Vulture in South Africa and Lesotho and about 4 500 breeding pairs of Cape Vulture left in South Africa,” Wildlife ACT said.
The importance of Vulture Safe Feeding Sites
Vulture Safe Feeding Sites, or vulture restaurants, are areas where uncontaminated carcasses are intentionally placed to provide a safe and sustainable supplementary food source for vultures.
The feeding sites may also incorporate hides, which not only provide photographic opportunities but also help to increase public awareness of the challenges faced by vultures.
“In addition, these hides serve an important role in ecotourism, with the potential to generate revenue to sustain vulture conservation initiatives. This is the hope for the Mzimkulu Vulture Hide,” concluded Wildlife ACT.
