More than 500 vultures have died after consuming the flesh from elephant carcasses laced with poison in Botswana. Many of the birds were critically endangered, and the mass poisoning is a huge loss for avian conservation in the nation.
Botswana’s Department of Wildlife and National Parks announced the incident on Facebook June 21st, sharing their discovery of the site near the border with Zimbabwe.
“A total of 537 vultures and two tawny eagles were found dead at the site. The breakdown included 10 cape vultures, 14 lappet faced vultures, 468 white backed vultures, 17 white headed vultures and 28 hooded vultures. The law enforcement team attending the scene is working around the clock to decontaminate the area. Sampling of carcasses and the environment was done for further laboratory analysis.”
According to VulPro, a nonprofit group from South Africa, vultures are often targeted by poachers because the birds can be seen circling the sky over kill sites, alerting authorities to the presence of the poacher’s victims.
Hooded vultures, white headed vultures, and white backed vultures are all critically endangered, while the other species are classified as endangered. All species have less than 10,000 individuals left in the wild, so these losses are a huge blow to their survival.
While vultures may be disliked or misunderstood because of their scavenging nature, they are an important part of the ecosystem, helping prevent the spread of disease.
This is not the first case of a mass avian poisoning in the region; in fact, poisoning is the biggest cause of death for vultures throughout their home ranges.
In 2016, one study reported 11 different incidences of vulture poisoning by poachers in Africa, resulting in the deaths of more than 2000 birds.
While the loss of bird life is tragic enough, the incident again highlights the increasing problem of elephant poaching in Botswana. Once admired as a safe haven for elephants, the government recently lifted a hunting ban on these graceful giants, paving the way for trophy hunters to slaughter them.
With the ever-present threat of poachers looming, Botswana’s elephants and other wildlife need to be protected, not put under more pressure. Sign our petition urging Botswana to stop the slaughter of their elephants by reinstating the hunting ban.
SIGN: Reverse Deadly Decision to Allow Elephant Trophy Hunting in Botswana
I loathe POACHERS — they do NOT give a damn about anything other than themselves — they heinously MURDER animals, and even those they do not DIRECTLY kill, land up dying a torturous death — POACHERS are BAD for us all — they’re BAD for Humans, for Animals, for the Environment, for the Planet — BAN POACHERS from the face of the earth — FOREVER.
I am absolutely horrified with the actions of humans, in this world !!!!!!!!!!!
Why are grovernments allowing trophy hunting to continue? Yes – for cruel sick people paying lots of money to murder innocent endangered animals . How disgusting is that? Its barbaric and needs to be stopped.
The vultures perform an important role in nature and should be left in peace to do their important work.
These magnificent animals need protection, not to be shot for a hunter’s trophy. All wildlife must be respected. Ending the ban on elephant hunting in Botswana is disastrous. Hunting should be prevented and not encouraged.
Vultures are an important part of the food chain. No living thing deserves to die like this! No more poisoning!
STOP cruelty!
Trophy Hunters are synonymous with cowards. The most heinous crime is lying in wait. The cowards, then use high-powered rifles and scopes…how egregiously disgusting. We only live for the blink of an eye, but during that blink we determine our eternity. How well do you believe you are doing? What do you want your children to remember about you? What Earth will you be leaving for them…do you care? We have destroyed our magnificently beautiful Spaceship Earth, our only Home, by greed, senseless wars, overpopulation (7.8 billion), man-made pollution and squandered resources. We have passed the precipice, of any hope, of surviving, what we have recklessly set into motion. We have no tomorrow’s, yet we continue to destroy. We have begun the sixth mass extinction and yet treat animals, with unspeakable cruelties, as if they have no value. God have mercy…
Evil!
That killer looks like he got to live a few years, why couldn’t he let the elephant have a few more years? Too selfish..
No!!!!!! Unbelievable!! Give these vile poachers the death penalty. Animals are a privilege not a right. RIP poor animals.
Please end this animal cruelty on God’s precious creatures. We as a human race need to protect the voiceless. I cry every day for the hurt n pain of all these animals. It hurts me to the depths of my soul. How can anyone be so unemotional and inflict harm for pure enjoyment or for personal gain. …..
Botswana, you need to STOP the slaughter of elephants by REINSTATING the hunting ban, AND ban trophy hunting!
So sick of reading about these poor abused animals that are being killed for sport.
Take up a new hobby because MUR DER is forever and these animals only get one chance at life!!!!!
So sick of reading about these poor abused animals that are being killed for sport.
Take up a new hobby because MUR DER is forever and these animals only get one chance at life!!!!!
Justice please ! What a shame ! Human beings can be quite cruel.
STOP KILLING ELEPHANTS!!!! STOP KILLING OUR PRECIOUS WILDLIFE!!!!
Too many creatures dying . What a crying shame
Stop all of this murder on animals. Sick humans
Can’t we just give capital punishment to all these cowardly poachers!?
Do not allow the ban to be lifted for the “trophy hunting” to commence again. Why is it that humans want to destroy every god damn species of animal on this earth. You have no rights to do this to the animals they do not belong to the people they belong to their own. Stop this god damn slaughter that is taking place every way on the planet. Wake up people before there is nothing left.
Botswana, when all your majestic elephants have been murdered & all your vultures poisoned, who the hell is going to pay tourist dollars to visit your graveyard?
Put an end to the ruthless killing of the elephants and also tbe vultures!!
Too many creatures dying . What a crying shame.
I’m gonna ask a very serious question “Why are the poachers, and trophy hunters still alive?
Botswana is out of control. They have used poor judgment and have made bad decisions regarding wildlife. Because of this, now we have 2 species dead.
Botswana is out of control. They have used poor judgment and have made bad decisions regarding wildlife. Because of this, now we have 2 species dead.
stop poachers by being honest
Firstly the ban has been lifted on KILLING elephants for ‘fun and entertainment’ and now this disaster of elephants being mass poisoned. Perhaps the government of Botswana can tell the watching, waiting world of its future plans when ALL the elephants are gone, extinct, exterminated, NEVER TO RETURN????? Who’s going to want to visit the cess-pit country then, certainly NO TOURISTS with their money, but never mind, just carry on murdering all the elephants until there’s none left.