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International Vulture Awareness Day, Cape Vulture Conservancy
Every year, people from all around the world, come together on the first Saturday of September to celebrate internation vulture awareness day. Originally started by the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in 2006, it has grown since inception into a global platform to celebrate a group of birds that don’t always get the attention and publicity that they deserve. This year, the Endangered Wildlife Trust in the lowveld region of eastern South Africa, joined up with the Cape Vulture Conservancy, to share knowledge and education about vultures in general, along with the threats they face, and how we can collectively work together to create a better future where the skies are filled with vultures.
Cape Vulture Conservancy plays host to the second largest colony of Cape Vultures Gyps coprotheres globally, and as an organisation, they have prioritised the long-term conservation of the colony, and really making this the core of what they do. With over 700 breeding pairs nesting along the cliff faces of the Drakensberg escarpment, it makes for a wonderful backdrop, and a perfect venue for celebrating such an important event.
This year, one of the major aims was to include youth from surrounding areas and the greater Hoedspruit community and afford the chance to not only get to know the property better, but also educate people regarding the plight of these special birds. With roughly 300 school kids attending, and with some travelling from as far as Selwane, to the north-west of Phalaborwa, it undoubtedly was an event that stood out as one of the highlights of the year. The day started with a fun walk covering a 5km section of the property, after which everyone could explore the permaculture gardens, several stalls from organisations such as Daktari Bush School & Wildlife Orphanage, Moholoholo Wildlife and Rehabilitation Centre, and Animal Relief for Rural Communities. After some introductory presentations from Frikkie Kotze, the manager of Cape Vulture Conservancy, and John Davies from the Endangered Wildlife Trust, everyone got treated to a snake demonstration from the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre, which was a real hit and a great way of ending the day.
The Endangered Wildlife Trust would like to thank the wonderful team from Cape Vulture Conservancy for taking the initiative to not only host and drive this event, but also commit to the long term conservation of these magnificent birds within the region.
