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Mass poisonings of vultures in Africa
Vultures die in large numbers at poisoned carcasses laid by poachers, in retaliation against predators, or to supply trade in body parts.
Open on the interactive globeIn May 2025 two poisonings in Kruger National Park and the Lionspruit reserve killed 225 vultures, mostly white-backed vultures, while 83 were rescued. In January 2026, 34 vultures and 6 lions died in the Amboseli ecosystem after a cow carcass was poisoned, and in Burkina Faso 22 hooded vultures were killed for trade linked to mystical practices. The global hooded vulture population is about 130,000 and has fallen by more than 65 percent in under three generations.
Numbers with sources
| Value | As of | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Animals affected | 225 | May 2025 | peregrinefund.org |
Species
| Species | IUCN status | Population | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gyps africanus Gyps africanus | critically endangered (IUCN CR) | peregrinefund.org | |
| Necrosyrtes monachus Necrosyrtes monachus | critically endangered (IUCN CR) | (2026) | 4vultures.org |
| Gyps coprotheres Gyps coprotheres | vulnerable (IUCN VU) | peregrinefund.org | |
| Torgos tracheliotos Torgos tracheliotos | endangered (IUCN EN) | peregrinefund.org |
Needs
- animal rescue
- veterinary care
- anti-poaching
Who is helping
Organisations that, according to their own publications, work on this event (3). Donations go directly to each organisation's own website - GLOBURNS does not handle payments.
- Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT)The Endangered Wildlife Trust is a South African conservation organisation with a Birds of Prey Programme. In May 2025 it led the response in Kruger National Park that…Donate on the organisation's website (ewt.org)
- Kenya Bird of Prey Trust (KBOPT)The Kenya Bird of Prey Trust rescues, treats and releases birds of prey, including vultures. It runs a centre in Naivasha and the Kwenia vulture sanctuary programme, and…Donate on the organisation's website (kenyabirdofpreytrust.org)
- VulPro (VulPro)VulPro is a South African organisation dedicated entirely to vulture conservation. It collects injured and poisoned vultures from across South Africa and provides…Donate on the organisation's website (vulpro.com)
Sources
- peregrinefund.org peregrinefund.org/news/over-200-vultures-killed-mass-poisonings-south-africa-83-rescued-u…
- 4vultures.org 4vultures.org/blog/vultures-poisoned-in-africa-2026/
- sanparks.org sanparks.org/news/84-cape-vultures-rescued-from-poisoning-in-the-kruger-national-park
- iucnredlist.org iucnredlist.org/species/22695185/118599398
Seed record, before editorial verification. Every number links to its source; report errors on the Corrections page. Methodology · Corrections
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