The satellite hook-ups provide valuable information for the species necessary for the sake of its preservation. In this case its role turned out to be additional – owing to the modern tracing device it became known when and where the bird has been killed.
The killed Egyptian vulture hatched in Greece in 2013 where he was called Pashalis. Within the LIFE+ project “Help for the Egyptian vulture” a satellite hook-up was attached to the bird. In autumn Pashalis flew successfully to Africa and settled in the south of Niger. The last signal from the vulture was received on 27th February 2014 from a place at about 140 km from the border with Nigeria. The next signals were from a house in a small village. A few days later the hook-up was transferred to Nigeria.
The investigation carried out by the LIFE+ project partners with the assistance of the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF) in Niger and the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) in Nigeria uncovered that Pashalis has been killed by a traditional vulture hunter who comes regularly from Nigeria. The object has been the sale of the bird to rich customers in Nigeria for traditional “magic” ceremonies.
Hence within the region between Nigeria and Niger Nigerian hunters kill vultures and ravens in large numbers for commercial reasons. According to the data collected the vultures of all species that are killed for this goal are considerable number – hundreds of cases have been known for the last 10 years. Only during his last travel the hunter mentioned has killed eight vultures.
Protected though by the law the vultures are, in Nigeria they are looked upon as a source of profit. The black market there is widespread. While the attitude of the local communities towards the vultures in Niger is negative – it is considered a dirty and ugly bird. Also a “moral law” exists, according to which making magic to other person is deemed a crime. For this reason the birds are not used in the country but are exported to Nigeria where there is a great demand for voodoo aims.
For solving this serious problem it is necessary that an urgent integrated international strategy for vulture preservation on their migration route be created. A first step to its implementation is the launching of a clarification programme and information campaign in Niger by SCF, as well as the carrying out of a more in-depth investigation of the illegal traffic in Nigeria by the A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute. At international level the LIFE+ project “Help for the Egyptian vulture” will coordinate the development of a plan for preservation of the Egyptian vultures along their migration route within the network of BirdLife International and with the cooperation of the Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Conservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (CMS/Raptors MoU) and will actively foster the respective countries for adoption of the plan.
Uncovered illegal trafficking in killed world endangered vultures aimed at voodoo magic in Africa
