Vultures like to sit down to a good meal, but unlike other animals they are quite specific about what’s on the menu. These rather ugly birds only eat the meat of dead animals, so they can be tricky dinner guests…
When Southern Africa was a wild and rugged place, with not too many humans on the horizon – finding a delectable meal was quite easy for the vulture moms and dads. However, in more recent times things have got a bit more complicated. The advent of farming meant that the herds of wild animals were replaced with well-managed herds of livestock. Animal carcasses were few and far between and often times when a cow or bull died, the farmers would bury the animal to avoid possible disease. Another threat the vultures have had to face is poisoning (often, courtesy of poachers). The ever-increasing presence of power lines and the steady destruction of their natural habitat meant that population numbers began to dwindle.
For birds like the Cape Vulture, the increasingly modern world proved near fatal. Finding food became extremely difficult – and the young vulture babes soon died off from lack of food and calcium-deficiencies (calcium from animal bones is essential to vulture wellbeing).
One very bright idea
In the 1990’s a few South African conservationists had the bright idea of creating a vulture restaurant – where these birds could be guaranteed of a slap-up meal. Pretty soon, the vulture population had a new lease on life and the vulture restaurant concept became the norm for conservationists and farmers.
Defining the Vulture Restaurant
According to the De Wildt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust, ‘ A vulture restaurant can be described as a specific site where animal carcasses, both wild animals of any shape or size are provided as an artificial source for vultures to provide a feeding haven for vultures where uncontaminated and safe food is supplied on a regular basis’.
A Win-Win Situation
This unique feeding concept was soon seen as having scientific research and tourism potential. The Vulture Study Group* was besieged by people wanting to watch the vultures feed and as a result, the vulture restaurant concept went mainstream with major benefits to a number of parties. Firstly the animals could get to eat safe food in a non-threatening environment, conservationists and researchers could study these creatures to their heart’s content, farmers could use this as an easy way to get rid of dead animals and the tourists gained the opportunity to watch a vulture dinner party first hand.
In an interview with 50/50 environmental television, a certain Professor Verdoorn of the Vulture Study Group (VSG) shed some light on the plight of the vulture. He said: ‘I think our biggest challenge is to change people’s minds and attitudes towards vultures. From thirty years ago to now there has been a change. Most people know about the birds – accept that the birds are part of the ecology and also understand now that these vultures are not these filthy, ugly, creatures, but there is something of value in them.’
Certainly the advent of more and more vulture restaurants coming into being means that both local and international tourists have the opportunity to learn more about our misunderstood feathered friends.
Vulture Restaurants
There are a few notable vulture restaurants to look out for on your travels to South Africa:
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Giants Castle Nature Reserve – KwaZulu Natal. This gorgeous reserve is home to the Bearded Vulture and lies in the Central Drakensberg. The Vulture Restaurant at Giant’s Castle is the perfect place to watch the Bearded Vulture and other raptors.
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Mpumalanga has a few Vulture Restaurants close to the Kruger Park. Some of the private lodges around the Kruger have created their own vulture restaurants including Kings Camp Safari Lodge and Tulani Safari Lodge.
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The Lichtenberg Game Breeding Centre is a unique one of a kind facility dedicated to vultures.
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De Widlt Cheetah and Wildlife Trust has a special Vulture Unit that also educates the people in local areas about wildlife. Visitors to the centre can adopt a vulture.
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The Magaliesberg region is also popular with vulture-watchers.
Vulture Species
The vulture is generally easily recognisable, and yes we do admit this bird is not the beauty queen of bird varieties. Known for its large bald head and hooked bill, the vulture is perhaps the ‘ugly duckling’ of the skies.
The Vulture Species you’ll find in South Africa:
*The Vulture Study Group was established in 1973 and has grown into an international organisation dedicated to the research and conservation of the vulture populations of Southern Africa and abroad. The Vulture Study Group falls under the Endangered Wildlife Trust.
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