{"id":15313,"date":"2015-12-29T12:00:58","date_gmt":"2015-12-29T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.journals.cambridge.org\/?p=15313"},"modified":"2015-12-22T16:01:20","modified_gmt":"2015-12-22T16:01:20","slug":"ivory-poachers-use-of-poison-endangers-vultures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/blog\/2015\/12\/29\/ivory-poachers-use-of-poison-endangers-vultures\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivory poachers’ use of poison endangers vultures"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Conservationists warn ivory poachers\u2019 use of poison is further decimating Africa\u2019s endangered vultures<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Nairobi: 7 December 2015\u2014Conservationists in Africa have raised the alarm about the increasing use of poisons in elephant poaching and the devastating effects on Africa\u2019s endangered vultures.<\/p>\n

A study released today in the conservation journal Oryx<\/a><\/em> reveals that since 2012 ivory poachers have increasingly used poisons to kill elephants or to contaminate their carcasses specifically to eliminate vultures, whose overhead circling might otherwise reveal the poachers\u2019 presence.<\/p>\n

In October this year four species of African vultures were up\u2010listed to Critically Endangered, and two species were up\u2010listed to Endangered on the IUCN Red List, such is their dire plight on the continent.\u00a0\u00a0 This newest threat has increased so rapidly that it now accounts for one\u2010third of all vulture poisonings recorded since 1970.<\/p>\n

Darcy Ogada the Assistant Director of Africa Programs for The Peregrine Fund and lead author of the study said, \u201cIn April 2012 we held our first Africa\u2010wide vulture meeting to address rapidly declining populations and this threat was not even mentioned. It has exploded in magnitude with the ongoing slaughter of elephants and currently represents the biggest cause of vulture mortality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The authors warn that the dramatic upsurge in the use of poisons for poaching elephants represents exploitation of weak regulations and enforcement regarding the accessibility and misuse of toxic pesticides and other poisons.<\/p>\n

Andre Botha of the Endangered Wildlife Trust noted, \u201cA significant part of the challenge is the fact that a range of chemicals are readily available and accessible to individuals with the intention to poison wildlife. Off\u2010label use of substances such as carbofuran and aldicarb is\u00a0common practise, potentially has a devastating impact on wildlife, and it seems that very little is done by authorities to monitor and enforce regulations and legislation in this regard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wildlife authorities in many African nations admit to being overwhelmed by the increasing use of poisons for poaching. The authors concur that the current intensity with which poisons are being used to kill elephants, rhinoceros, vultures and other species represents a paradigm shift that requires international support from a range of stakeholders.<\/p>\n

The full article is free to view for one month\u00a0at:<\/strong> http:\/\/journals.cambridge.org\/orx\/ivory<\/a><\/p>\n

Authors:\u00a0Dr Darcy Ogada,\u00a0Mr Andre Botha,\u00a0Dr Phil Shaw<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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