In Leonard Cohen’s famous song, a bird on a wire is a symbol of freedom, but for thousands of birds it is the equivalent of being sent to the electric chair. Now, in a landmark case, a Spanish electricity company is being prosecuted over the deaths of hundreds of birds electrocuted on pylons and overhead […]
Tag: vulture
Diclofenac claims first official victim in Europe: the Cinereous Vulture
A Cinerous Vulture Aegypius monachus born in 2020 in the Boumort National Hunting Reserve has now been confirmed as the first victim of a vulture species to die from poisoning by veterinary diclofenac in Europe. The cause of death of this vulture was confirmed in a new study which came out on April 5th, at […]
Tackling illegal killing, taking and trade of birds in Sub-Saharan Africa
As part of our effort to curb the devastating damage wreaked by the bird trade, BirdLife has embarked on a study to compile all existing information about bird killing, trapping and trade in Sub-Saharan Africa. We’re inviting you to get in touch with any information that can help us fill in the gaps. A bustling […]
As Guinea-Bissau records mass vulture deaths, poisoning is main suspect
Around 1,000 vultures have been found dead in Guinea-Bissau in the last two weeks, believed to have been poisoned. The birds, almost all critically endangered hooded vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) were found in different locations across the country, with the majority near the towns of Bafata and Gabu. Initial details suggest that the birds were poisoned, […]
Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead poisoning
Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead bullets — but it’s not because they’re being shot. The Cape Fear Raptor Center, North Carolina’s largest eagle rehab facility, has treated seven eagles in the past month for lead poisoning, executive director Dr. Joni Shimp told CNN. Since November, at least 80% of the […]
Alarm over mass vulture poisoning in South Africa
DURBAN, South Africa — Another mass vulture poisoning incident has ended the year on a sour note for Wildlife ACT rangers in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Soon after releasing two rehabilitated vultures, rescued from a different poisoning scene earlier this year, WildLife ACT was alerted to another incident on 23 Dec, on Rolling […]
Over 700 protected birds confiscated in ‘largest haul in years’
More than 700 dead protected birds were confiscated by authorities on Thursday in what they say is the largest such haul in six years. In a joint operation, members of the police’s Administrative Law Enforcement unit together with officials from the Environment and Resources Authority, seized birds including eagles, falcons and vultures as well as […]
New project tackles illegal trade in vulture body parts
In Nigeria and across Africa, vultures are being killed so that their body parts can be used for various belief-based practices, including traditional medicine. This is a severe threat for a group of birds already beleaguered by poisoning and habitat loss. But on the 8th of May, scientists, officials and community members gathered at Lekki […]