Vulture project takes wing

UNTIL at least 2007, his every move will be recorded.

Experts will analyse and scrutinise his missions. They will take important decisions based on the trends identified.And despite having the name of “Skybanker”, he is not the next investment consultant knocking on your door.On January 18 Skybanker became the world’s first Cape griffon vulture to be fitted with a satellite transmitter.”The Cape griffon vulture is endemic to southern Africa, and it is a highly endangered species,” Maria Diekman told The Namibian on Tuesday.She added that there were only between eight and eleven of these vultures left in the country.As director of the Rare and Endangered Species Trust of Namibia (REST), Diekman is also the initiator of this effort to help the endangered Cape griffon vulture.Skybanker, as his sponsor the Commercial bank of Namibia has called him, was caught with 91 other whiteback vultures in what was also a world first large-scale, walk-in trap.”Five of these whitebacks were fitted with radio collars and all of them were marked with colour rings,” explained Diekman.”We also took blood samples of the birds which will give us the opportunity to sex them”.Diekman said that the sex of a vulture was not as obvious as it is with humans.Even Skybanker, who is recorded as male, still needs his gender confirmed.”With the assistance of a local veterinarian and some experienced vulture conservationists, the health of all the vultures were thoroughly checked before they were released,” a recent REST media release said.”By far the biggest problem facing the vulture is an image problem,” Diekman told The Namibian.She explained: “TV portrays vultures only as carcass eating-scavengers.And next to the giant elephant or the gracious cheetah, it is very difficult to find funding for them.People aren’t aware of the importance of vultures”.Diekman explained why vultures are such a vital ingredient to the circle of life.Being immune to both anthrax and botulism, they prevent the spread of diseases to other animals from carcasses left lying around.”I suspect, if we didn’t have vultures, we’d lose all other land animals,” she said.Adding to the importance of conserving the Cape griffon vulture is the fact that it flies at the highest altitude of all vultures.”We are confident that the other raptors are dependent on this one to locate their carcass”.According to Diekman, another great threat to the vulture is that of accidental poisoning.”Farmers lay out baited animals that are supposed to poison jackals or leopards.Instead, they end up killing the vultures”.Diekman said that the other issue REST has been dealing with is that of problem animal management for farmers.”We go to farmers meetings free of charge and teach them alternative methods to problem animal management”.She emphasised: “It is important for farmers to know that I am also a farmer and we address the issue from a farmer’s point of view – not from that of unrealistic conservationists.But there are other options.All they have to do is ask.I have a box of at least 20 tricks up my sleeve”.REST was established three years ago and with Boas Arckie, Trish Cooper and Dieter Noelle has a Namibian board of directors.The organisation is based on Uitsig, a farm just outside of Otjiwarongo.”We need Namibian backing,” said Diekman.”Without local support, we can forget any mission”.But in her quest to save the vultures, Diekman, who came to Namibia from the United States 15 years ago, has not encountered major obstacles.”I am amazed at the quality of support by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism.They have helped us with research and access permits, ringing licences ‘ they have been very helpful”.REST plans to trap at least two more Cape griffon vultures for satellite tracking purposes.”We already have their sponsors and now only need to catch the vultures”.It costs US$7 000 to cover the transmitter and the downloading costs for this operation.The observations made from these tagged vultures will also pave the way for the re-introduction of eight Cape griffon vultures that were translocated from South Africa in November of last year.They will take important decisions based on the trends identified. And despite having the name of “Skybanker”, he is not the next investment consultant knocking on your door. On January 18 Skybanker became the world’s first Cape griffon vulture to be fitted with a satellite transmitter. “The Cape griffon vulture is endemic to southern Africa, and it is a highly endangered species,” Maria Diekman told The Namibian on Tuesday. She added that there were only between eight and eleven of these vultures left in the country. As director of the Rare and Endangered Species Trust of Namibia (REST), Diekman is also the initiator of this effort to help the endangered Cape griffon vulture. Skybanker, as his sponsor the Commercial bank of Namibia has called him, was caught with 91 other whiteback vultures in what was also a world first large-scale, walk-in trap. “Five of these whitebacks were fitted with radio collars and all of them were marked with colour rings,” explained Diekman. “We also took blood samples of the birds which will give us the opportunity to sex them”. Diekman said that the sex of a vulture was not as obvious as it is with humans. Even Skybanker, who is recorded as male, still needs his gender confirmed. “With the assistance of a local veterinarian and some experienced vulture conservationists, the health of all the vultures were thoroughly checked before they were released,” a recent REST media release said. “By far the biggest problem facing the vulture is an image problem,” Diekman told The Namibian. She explained: “TV portrays vultures only as carcass eating-scavengers. And next to the giant elephant or the gracious cheetah, it is very difficult to find funding for them. People aren’t aware of the importance of vultures”. Diekman explained why vultures are such a vital ingredient to the circle of life. Being immune to both anthrax and botulism, they prevent the spread of diseases to other animals from carcasses left lying around. “I suspect, if we didn’t have vultures, we’d lose all other land animals,” she said. Adding to the importance of conserving the Cape griffon vulture is the fact that it flies at the highest altitude of all vultures. “We are confident that the other raptors are dependent on this one to locate their carcass”. According to Diekman, another great threat to the vulture is that of accidental poisoning. “Farmers lay out baited animals that are supposed to poison jackals or leopards. Instead, they end up killing the vultures”. Diekman said that the other issue REST has been dealing with is that of problem animal management for farmers. “We go to farmers meetings free of charge and teach them alternative methods to problem animal management”. She emphasised: “It is important for farmers to know that I am also a farmer and we address the issue from a farmer’s point of view – not from that of unrealistic conservationists. But there are other options. All they have to do is ask. I have a box of at least 20 tricks up my sleeve”. REST was established three years ago and with Boas Arckie, Trish Cooper and Dieter Noelle has a Namibian board of directors. The organisation is based on Uitsig, a farm just outside of Otjiwarongo. “We need Namibian backing,” said Diekman. “Without local support, we can forget any mission”. But in her quest to save the vultures, Diekman, who came to Namibia from the United States 15 years ago, has not encountered major obstacles. “I am amazed at the quality of support by the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. They have helped us with research and access permits, ringing licences ‘ they have been very helpful”. REST plans to trap at least two more Cape griffon vultures for satellite tracking purposes. “We already have their sponsors and now only need to catch the vultures”. It costs US$7 000 to cover the transmitter and the downloading costs for this operation. The observations made from these tagged vultures will also pave the way for the re-introduction of eight Cape griffon vultures that were translocated from South Africa in November of last year.

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