Eswatini Takes Bold Step to Combat Lead Poisoning in Vultures
Eswatini is home to five species of vultures, all of which are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.
Across Africa, vultures are faced with extinction with some species in the continent seeing a decline of up to 97% over the last 50 years. Today, 7 out of 11 African vulture species are threatened with extinction due to various threats including poisoning. They also face threats from belief-based use where vulture parts are used in traditional medicine, and are believed to cure ailments or imbue partakers with magical powers or bring good luck. In addition, energy infrastructure is responsible for vulture deaths through collisions or electrocutions.
Southern Africa has nine of the eleven African vulture species, with five listed as either Endangered or Critically Endangered, and two classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. Eswatini is home to five species of vultures, all of which are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered. Poisoning incidences including instances where vulture consume meat from animals killed using lead ammunition, in addition to use of vulture parts for traditional medicine has led to steep declines of vulture populations in the country.
Consequently, the Kingdom of Eswatini has taken the first bold step towards protecting the country’s vultures from poising arising from lead used in ammunition. Lead poisoning, primarily resulting from the ingestion of lead ammunition fragments in carcasses, poses a severe threat to these magnificent birds.
The Eswatini National Trust Commission (ENTC) in collaboration with BirdLife International, convened a crucial two-day workshop to address the alarming issue of lead poisoning in vultures. The workshop, held at Mananga Country Lodge, Tshaneni, on 5th and 6th November 2024, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including representatives from government agencies, academia, civil society, and traditional healers.
While opening the meeting, Ms. Bonsile Ndlangamandla, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Eswatini National Trust Commission noted the need for greater public awareness and education to strengthen vulture and other bird species conservation programmes in Eswatini.
“It is important to highlight the ecological significance of vultures, and the need to protect them for the critical ecological services that they provide free of charge, as they swiftly dispose of carcasses, thus enabling the prevention and spread of diseases and securing overall health of ecosystems and humans. Our gathering here is an important undertaking as we individually signify our continuing efforts to protect our wildlife species, including our vultures that are facing insurmountable human-induced threats,” she said.
Participants discussed the latest scientific findings on lead poisoning and its devastating impact on vultures, wildlife and human health. Dr Linda van den Heever, Species Conservation Programme Manager at BirdLife South Africa (BirdLife Partner in South Africa) demonstrated the harmful impact of lead on vultures including effects on young chicks that are unable to effectively fledge linked to accumulation of lead in vital body organs. Prof John Yabe of the University of Namibia shared research findings on the effects of lead in humans, including impeding psychosocial development in children.
Mr. Sandile Gumedze, the Acting Director of Parks at the Eswatini National Trust Commission pointed out the need for all stakeholders to work together to address vulture poisoning from leaded ammunition. “All stakeholders must work together to devise and implement effective solutions that ensure the long-term survival of vulture populations in Eswatini and beyond”, he said.
“Vultures in Eswatini breed almost entirely within protected areas. In addition, the country is an important migratory corridor for vultures in Southern Africa, thus we should do everything to protect this position,” said Prof. Ara Monadjem of the University of Eswatini.
During the workshop, stakeholders explored strategies to mitigate the problem. Key priorities identified included education and awareness, research monitoring and surveillance, collaboration and partnerships, policy and advocacy, and resource mobilization. Stakeholders further spotlighted the need to develop a National Lead Action Plan for Eswatini to protect vultures.
Fadzai Matsvimbo, the Preventing Extinctions Programme Coordinator at BirdLife International Africa lauded ENTC for organizing the successful workshop. “It is encouraging to see such a broad representation of stakeholders. A critical step moving ahead is to accelerate the creation of the Eswatini vulture lead action plan that will plug into the regional strategy. We are committed to working with ENTC and all stakeholders in the Kingdom of Eswatini”, she concluded.
Header Image: Participants preparing for the Eswatini workshop
“It is important to highlight the ecological significance of vultures and the need to protect them, for the critical ecological services that they provide”
Ms. Bonsile Ndlangamandla, Ag. Chief Executive Officer, Eswatini National Trust Commission