Cabo Verde Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus on the brink: community perceptions, inferences and facts of an extreme population crash

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-307 ◽  
Author(s):  
RUI FREITAS ◽  
CATELENE MONTEIRO ◽  
ISABEL RODRIGUES ◽  
ALEX TAVARES ◽  
GILDA MONTEIRO ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abundant Species ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Community Perceptions ◽  
Cabo Verde ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus ◽  
Population Crash ◽  
Desert Rangelands ◽  
The 1960S ◽  
Near Extinction

SummaryThe Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus was once an abundant species in the Cabo Verde Islands. Since the 1960s though, and especially during the 1980–1990s, it consistently declined to near extinction. Evidence collected indicates a remnant population of about a dozen pairs or less, scattered through the desert rangelands of only three islands. Extensive enquiry work revealed that this likely resulted from the concomitant effects of the rise in unnatural mortality due to the formerly widespread and long-lasting use of dangerous pesticides and the (still on-going) poisoning of stray dogs and other nuisance animals, and a decrease in food resources associated with factors linked with development, such as urbanisation, rural abandonment and better sanitation. Avoiding imminent extinction calls for emergency action against current threats to the remaining vultures, such as poisoning and electrocution, but also potential causes of impaired fecundity such as hazardous pesticides and shortage of food resources.

Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaume Orta ◽  
Guy M. Kirwan ◽  
David Christie ◽  
Ernest Garcia ◽  
Jeffrey S. Marks
Keyword(s):  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus

Isolation and characterization of 18 microsatellite loci in the Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus)

2007 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1345-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosa Agudo ◽  
Severine Roques ◽  
Juan Antonio Galarza ◽  
Ciro Rico ◽  
Fernando Hiraldo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Isolation And Characterization ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus

scholarly journals A literature review of occurrence of Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) resident in Africa

Vulture News ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-54
Author(s):  
Volen Arkumarev ◽  
Mike McGrady ◽  
Ivaylo Angelov
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Boreal Winter ◽  
Population Declines ◽  
Mortality Factors ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Apparent Lack ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus ◽  
Direct Killing

The Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus is a globally endangered species that is experiencing rapid population declines throughout most of its range. Conservation of Egyptian Vultures in Africa is globally important because it holds a resident population of 1 000 – 2 000 breeding pairs, harbours a significant but unknown number of Eurasian migrants during the boreal winter, and many non-adult Egyptian Vultures reared in Eurasia dwell in Africa until they mature. Africa comprises approximately half of the area of the global range of the species. Once considered common and widespread in many parts of Africa, Egyptian Vulture is now one of the vulture species that is most threatened with extinction. Egyptian Vulture is considered extinct as a breeding species in Southern Africa, and continuous population declines have been reported from most of its African range, resulting in a population reduction of perhaps 75%. Despite these declines, there is an apparent lack of systematic observations, and its current status in many African countries is unknown. Furthermore, little is known about the magnitude of the various threats and their impact on resident and wintering Egyptian Vultures. Data-deficiency hinders conservation efforts across the continent. We conducted an extensive review of published and unpublished information on the resident Egyptian Vulture populations in Africa, in an attempt to systemize the available knowledge of the species’ historic and current occurrence on a country-by country basis and identify the threats it faces. Information was found from 39 countries; no records of Egyptian Vultures were found in 16 other countries. In 12 countries where Egyptian Vultures have been observed, breeding has never been confirmed, and observations most likely refer to vagrants or wintering individuals. The Horn of Africa appears to be a relative stronghold, but there too, losses almost certainly have occurred. Poisoning, electrocution and direct killing for belief-based practices are considered the main mortality factors, and are hampering the species’ recovery. The review highlights the dire status of Egyptian Vultures in Africa, and calls for the urgent implementation of various large-scale conservation measures that will combat threats, secure the survival of the species on the continent, and make Africa safer for migrants coming from Eurasia.

scholarly journals A Globally-Important Stronghold in Oman for a Resident Population of the Endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

Ardea ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 73
Author(s):  
Ivaylo Angelov ◽  
Clémentine Bougain ◽  
Michael Schulze ◽  
Thuraya Al Sariri ◽  
Michael McGrady ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resident Population ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus

scholarly journals Identifying key demographic parameters for the viability of a growing population of the endangered Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 426-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
HELENA TAULER ◽  
JOAN REAL ◽  
ANTONIO HERNÁNDEZ-MATÍAS ◽  
PERE AYMERICH ◽  
JORDI BAUCELLS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
Egyptian Vulture ◽  
Neophron Percnopterus ◽  
Global Trend ◽  
Demographic Processes ◽  
Number Of Individuals ◽  
Global Population ◽  
Demographic Evolution

SummaryThe Egyptian Vulture Neophron percnopterus is a threatened species throughout its worldwide range. The Iberian Peninsula holds 50% of its global population, which has declined by 25% over the last 20 years. Despite this negative global trend, an increase in the number of individuals over the last 25 years has been observed in Catalonia, where it has colonised areas in which it was previously unknown. In this study, we describe the demographic evolution of an increasing population of Egyptian Vultures in central and eastern Catalonia and we apply population models and maximum likelihood procedures to investigate both the main demographic processes driving the observed trends and the viability of the population. The number of pairs in this region increased from one to 22 in the period 1988–2012. The best-supported models suggest that adult survival in this population may be higher than in other Iberian populations and that furthermore, there is a continuous influx of immigrants. Based on the most likely scenarios, Population Viability Analysis predicts that the population will continue to increase. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the adult survival rate has the greatest influence on population dynamics so conservation efforts will be more effective if concentrated on improving this rate.

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