More than 100 critically endangered vultures have been found dead in a devastating poisoning event at Lionspruit Game Reserve near Marloth Park, Mpumalanga.
Picture/Megan Whittington/DW
The incident, described by conservationists as catastrophic, includes the deaths of 92 White-backed vultures—90% of them breeding adults—nine Hooded vultures, and one adult male White-headed vulture, according to reports by The Star.
This event also comes after it was previously reported two weeks back that 123 vultures were dead and 84 of those had been saved from poisoning in the nick of time – this happened at Kruger National Park.
The tragic discovery was made thanks to GPS tracking devices fitted to rehabilitated vultures previously released by VulPro, Africa’s only dedicated vulture conservation organisation, and the Wild and Free Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre based in Hectorspruit. When the birds’ movements began showing signs of distress, VulPro alerted Wild and Free, who then contacted field rangers from the Nkomazi municipality.
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A coordinated attack with no survivors
Upon arrival, the team found a harrowing scene: dozens of vultures collapsed around a warthog carcass, with no survivors in sight. Significantly, no body parts had been removed, ruling out harvesting for traditional medicine. Two additional carcasses were spotted from the air, with support from SANParks, who joined the search efforts.
According to VulPro CEO Kerri Wolter, “The scale of this poisoning is devastating and appears to be part of a much bigger, targeted operation. With multiple incidents taking place in various regions across the Lowveld recently, we suspect they are aimed at distracting us from a bigger and even more devastating event soon.
“We are calling on the government and the national vulture poisoning working group to address the crisis before it’s too late. To lose this number of vultures, let alone adult breeding birds during breeding season, is an ecological crisis. We are genuinely terrified of what is going to occur next.”
Wolter also added that because no body parts were taken, “This latest slaughter does not look as if it is related to muti.”
Samples from the scene are being analysed by expert toxicologist Dr Gerhard Verdoorn, director of the Griffon Poison Information Centre, and Dr Peet Venter, to determine the substance used and lay the groundwork for potential legal action.
The impact of such events stretches far beyond the immediate deaths. Vultures are essential to ecosystems, serving as natural waste removers that help prevent disease outbreaks. Their rapid decline is a serious blow to biodiversity and undoes decades of conservation work.
A halt on vulture releases in the Lowveld
In response, VulPro is urging all wildlife rehab centres in the Lowveld region to halt the release of vultures until the risks are better understood and addressed.
Just days before this incident, VulPro and Wild and Free formalised their partnership with the launch of a dedicated Vulture Emergency Response Unit in Mpumalanga. The unit aims to deliver rapid on-site field response to poisoning and injury cases, along with expert veterinary care and long-term rehabilitation. Supported by WeWild Africa and Over and Above Africa, the initiative brings together fieldwork, science, and cross-border conservation strategy in a bid to halt vulture extinction.
“This is not just about one event. It’s about a systemic threat to our natural balance,” Wolter said. “We are fighting for every egg, every nest, and every vulture’s future. Through science, integrity, and collaboration, we will hold the line.”
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ALSO READ: 84 vultures rescued from mass poisoning in Kruger; at least 123 dead
