The state has unveiled a 10-year action plan to protect vultures.
The Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for Kenya (2024-2034) was launched on Friday.
Director of wildlife and community service at the Kenya Wildlife Service Prof Charles Musyoki said vultures are nature’s critical cleanup crew that prevents the spread of diseases.
“Their role in the ecosystem is irreplaceable, contributing significantly to maintaining a healthy environment,” said Musyoki, who represented KWS director general Erustus Kanga.
Vultures also contribute to tourism by attracting visitors. Their population is declining rapidly due to the threats they face.
Musyoki said there is a need to raise public awareness of the role vultures play.
Nature Kenya species and sites manager Paul Gacheru urged scientists and developers to engage and share insights in new projects that have the potential to hurt vultures.
Globally, there are 23 species of vultures (including condors).
The action plan aims to address the conservation needs of eight vulture species in Kenya and one migrant species.
Vulture species listed as critically endangered include Rüppell’s vulture (Gyps rueppellii), white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis), and hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus).
Vulture species listed as endangered include the Lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) is listed as globally vulnerable, but nearly extinct locally.
Palm-nut vulture (Gypohierax angolensis) is listed as least concern in the same category as the migrant Griffon vulture (Gyps fulvus).
Unlike many birds, vultures are extremely long-lived (between 25 to 30 years) and breed very slowly—typically laying a single egg per year - and mature late, reaching sexual maturity at five years. Their populations require high adult survival to be sustainable.
Because vultures are scavengers that traverse huge areas in search of food and they forage socially, they are extremely vulnerable to poisoning in large numbers at carcasses.
Given that vultures reproduce slowly and their populations require high numbers of breeding pairs to be sustainable, once their populations have declined it will take at least five to 10 years before any reversals may be seen.
The action plan shows that the national population of white-headed vultures is estimated to be between 60-100 individuals, hooded vulture (800-1,500), white-backed vulture (1,000-2,000) and Rüppell’s vulture (2,000-3,000).
The national population of Lappet-faced vultures is estimated to be 400-800, Egyptian vultures less than 100, bearded vulture less than five , palm-nut vulture (unknown), and Griffon vulture (rare seasonal vagrant).
The Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for Kenya (2024-2034) was supported by the Peregrine Fund, Nature Kenya.
Other organisations that played key roles include KWS, National Museums of Kenya, Kenya Bird of Prey Trust and Wildlife Research and Training Institute.
Vulture populations globally and in Kenya have been declining rapidly over the last 30 years.
Recognizing the critical role vultures play in maintaining ecosystem health, the plan addresses the diverse threats faced by multiple vulture species and outlines strategic objectives and actions to be implemented to ensure their survival.
Several threats that have led to vulture population declines in Kenya include poisoning due to both intentional and unintentional reasons; habitat loss, fragmentation and degradation; collision and electrocution with power lines and other energy infrastructure, and direct persecution.
Other threats include vehicular-caused mortalities; cultural beliefs and taboos; disturbance; synanthropic animal interactions; trade; drowning in artificial water reservoirs; climate change; and limited law enforcement.
The Vulture Multi-species Action Plan for Kenya 2024-2034 aligns with the Global Vulture Multi-Species Action Plan to Conserve Africa-Eurasian Vultures.
It seeks to restore, conserve and effectively manage viable populations of vultures in Kenya.
The goal of the action plan is to secure viable vulture populations and reverse population declines by mitigating threats through a multi-stakeholder approach.
The plan says there is a need to reduce vulture mortality from intentional or unintentional threats and enhance research and monitoring on vulture populations and their habitats.
It also calls for enhanced conservation management of vulture populations and their habitats and increases community and public understanding of vultures, their conservation and threats.
The plan seeks to mainstream vulture conservation in cross-sectoral policies strengthen law enforcement and initiate and strengthen international cooperation in the management of vulture sites and flyways.
The action plan says a national census of vulture populations should be undertaken every five years at Sh5 million.
