Play your role on International Vulture Day Join Lory Park Zoo in creating awareness for these important birds of prey The 5th September marks International Vulture Day and Lory Park Zoo and Owl Sanctuary is participating with institutions world-wide in helping to create awareness about the plight of vultures, especially in light of the fact that over the last few years, there has been a huge decrease in the number of these birds. Eddie van Eck, owner of Lory Park Zoo, says; “The decrease in vulture numbers is due to a number of reasons; firstly, farmers are still using poisons to eradicate unwanted predation on their live stock, secondly, there is also a huge demand for vulture bodies parts in Africa and Asia and lastly, although over the years there has been an effort to make power lines ‘bird of prey friendly’, they still account for a high percentage of vulture causalities.” Vultures are divided into two groups - the ‘old world’ vultures which have 16 species originating from Africa and Europe (White faced vultures and Palm nut vulture) and the ‘new world’ vultures which have 7 species (Turkey vultures and condors) orginating from Central and South America. Continues van Eck; “Vultures are an essential part of our ecosystem as they are able to digest meat, in any stage of decay which helps to prevent the spread of life-threatening diseases such as rabies and anthrax.” “In celebration of International Vulture Day and to raise awareness for these important birds of prey, Lory Park Zoo and Owl Sanctuary will be hosting three guided tours and talks with regards to vulture conservation on the 5th September. We hope this will go a long way to educate people on the importance of these birds and the role we need to play in their conservation,” concludes van Eck. Children will also have the opportunity to get their face painted as a bird of prey on the day and the Zoo will be offering a R10 reduction on entrance fee for children on the day, if they bring this article to the Zoo on the day. |
