Vultures in Niger: what are the threats and how can they be addressed?
Niger is a landlocked country in West Africa, located in the transition area between the Sahelo-Sudanian strip and the Sahara desert. Due to the diversity of its ecosystems, it is home to a wide variety of fauna and flora. Out of the 11 species of African vultures, eight can be observed in Niger and six are resident: the white-headed vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis), hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), African white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), Rüppell’s vulture (Gyps rueppelli), lappet-faced vulture (Torgos tracheliotos) and Egyptian vulture (Neophron percnopterus).
Read here the second article of Sandscript 31st issue
Since 2008, Sahara Conservation has set up regular monitoring of lappet-faced vulture, Rüppell’s vulture, white-headed vulture and Egyptian vulture nests in the Termit Massif, Dilia Kandil Bouzou, Gadabedji Biosphere Reserve (GBR) and the Koutous Massif.
After several years’ monitoring, we have been able to gather considerable information about the nesting habits of vultures in Niger and their main distribution areas. The nature reserves of the Sahelo-Saharan biome represent an ideal site for vulture breeding. However, like the rest of Africa, we are unfortunately observing a decline in the region’s vulture populations. Although they are protected species, poaching represents the greatest threat for vultures in Niger, especially during the breeding period, as nests are targeted. According to a survey conducted by Sahara Conservation’s team among different stakeholders (animal product sellers, healers, traditional medical practitioners, traditional chiefs, etc.), it has emerged that vultures parts are used in traditional medicine or for marabout practices and black magic. These uses, which lead to the illegal hunting of the birds, put great pressure on vulture populations, which are already relatively weakened. Several sources underline that poaching is primarily carried out by people from Nigeria, in collusion with certain people from the region.
Due to the complexity of the threats to be addressed and their cultural footing in the community, complementary activities involving a wide array of stakeholders have been set up.
First, the main aim is to tackle the vulture supply chain, by implementing direct actions to reduce the illegal killing of breeding populations in the targeted areas. Accordingly, Sahara Conservation has put in place support for the GBR’s management unit to carry out monitoring actions, reinforced by two community workers during the breeding season (from February to June).
Over and above regular monitoring work, the surrounding local communities play a crucial role, primarily in areas such as the Koutous Massif that do not have a team dedicated to protecting their integrity. A dedicated awareness-raising officer has been working with the local communities for several months to help them understand vultures’ role and value, along with the threats they are facing. By involving members of the local communities, we firmly believe that they could successfully spread the message and encourage them to help protect the vultures around them.
In parallel, awareness-raising and upskilling work was carried out among the main stakeholders involved in the trafficking of vultures and their belief-based use. In addition, capacity building about the trafficking of endangered species and its consequences, along with training on vulture identification was implemented among environmental officers.
Furthermore, information and awareness-raising activities, aiming to develop traditional healers and hunters’ local knowledge, in order to combat vulture hunting and trafficking, were put in place within the framework of the Egyptian Vulture New LIFE project. Several approaches were used, such as visiting markets in the designated areas to meet targeted people, organising discussion groups with the main stakeholders and holding in-depth study sessions.
As far as traditional practitioners are concerned, a particular focus was placed on alternatives to vulture parts, such as plant-based products with similar properties, that would allow them to continue their practices without affecting the vulture populations. Involving the leaders and influential people in each group guarantees that the message is spread.
By targeting hunters and the competent authorities, our aim is to break the supply chain, while working with local communities and traditional healers to reduce the demand for these products and promote plant-based alternatives.
Finally, some of the activities focus on raising awareness among younger generations. First of all, schools were identified in key areas near vulture breeding sites in order to support them, while putting their needs into perspective in terms of the project’s environmental education goals.
To optimise and intensify the actions already undertaken, fitting transmitters on a few vulture individuals would make it possible to supply priceless data on vultures’ ecology, distribution and breeding, as well as the potential causes of mortality in areas for which we have fewer data.
Working in collaboration with neighbouring countries, particularly Chad and Nigeria, would also be extremely important to combat the illegal harvesting of vultures in the region.
Abdoul Razack Moussa Zabeirou
Niger country representative
SAHARA CONSERVATION
