Air show for vultures in peril

ONLY 12 Cape Griffon vultures remain at the Waterberg Plateau cliffs near Otjiwarongo.As part of a bid to boost their population, the Rare Endangered Species Trust (REST) will soon release 16 Cape Griffons from South Africa as part of their vulture re-introduction programme.

To celebrate the arrival of these newcomers and to raise awareness of the Cape Griffon’s endangered status, the Flight for the Plight Air Show will be held on Saturday, October 29, at the Otjiwarongo air strip. The show will include a fly-by of various power planes and helicopters, aeronautical displays and competitions.Nelson, REST’s ‘ambassador vulture’ will also be there.Some 50 years ago Namibia had a Cape Griffon population of around 500 birds.Since then their numbers have dwindled, largely due to feeding on carcasses poisoned by local farmers to control leopard and jackal.They also often fly into power lines.Only an estimated 20 per cent of chicks survive to adulthood.Vultures are invaluable to farmers because they indicate dead or sick livestock.They also clean up decaying carcasses and in this way prevent epidemics of anthrax and botulism.REST, a non-profit organisation, conducts scientific research and uses the data as the basis for conservation and education programmes.Early last year, REST became the first organisation in the world to fit a satellite transmitter to a vulture.By monitoring the flight of the vulture with the transmitter, scientists have learnt that these birds fly much further than was previously believed.One bird has been tracked from the Waterberg Plateau, far north into Angola, east over the Kalahari and into South Africa.Entry to the show is free.Money raised from food, drinks and games will either go to the Otjiwarongo Rotary Club Old Age Home or help to fund REST programmes.The show will include a fly-by of various power planes and helicopters, aeronautical displays and competitions.Nelson, REST’s ‘ambassador vulture’ will also be there.Some 50 years ago Namibia had a Cape Griffon population of around 500 birds.Since then their numbers have dwindled, largely due to feeding on carcasses poisoned by local farmers to control leopard and jackal.They also often fly into power lines.Only an estimated 20 per cent of chicks survive to adulthood.Vultures are invaluable to farmers because they indicate dead or sick livestock.They also clean up decaying carcasses and in this way prevent epidemics of anthrax and botulism.REST, a non-profit organisation, conducts scientific research and uses the data as the basis for conservation and education programmes.Early last year, REST became the first organisation in the world to fit a satellite transmitter to a vulture.By monitoring the flight of the vulture with the transmitter, scientists have learnt that these birds fly much further than was previously believed.One bird has been tracked from the Waterberg Plateau, far north into Angola, east over the Kalahari and into South Africa.Entry to the show is free.Money raised from food, drinks and games will either go to the Otjiwarongo Rotary Club Old Age Home or help to fund REST programmes.