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On the eve of my retirement from public life, my mind is filled with thoughts about the legacy I’ll be leaving behind. You see, when you’re a vulture you don’t take anything for granted, least of all your future!
 With all but two of the vulture species found in South Africa classified as rare or vulnerable, it seems my legacy is in your hands. I need to convince you to help me secure our future – not just for the sake of my species, but also to ensure the health of our ecosystem… and ultimately, your future!
Now you’re probably thinking ‘What does a vulture have to do with me?’ Simply this: vultures rapidly consume animal remains, preventing the carcasses from acting as hosts to various diseases and pests that could affect you! And why is our existence threatened? Well, we all too frequently become the innocent victims of poisonings, power line electrocutions and persecution. In fact, due to accidental poisoning, Asia is currently dealing with the aftermath of a vulture crisis – believe me, we don’t want to be next.
 And we don’t have to – not if we each do our little bit to help conserve my species. The Vulture Programme is one way in which you could help. In fact, for the past couple of years, I’ve been their proud ambassador, joining Kerri Wolter on numerous outings so that school kids and the general public can get to know me a little better. And the funny thing is, once they look me in the eye, scratch my head or stroke my feathers… they like me!
Yip, it turns out we’re quite likable creatures, once you get up close and personal. No wonder I’m the most photographed vulture in South Africa – I guess you could say I’m the poster kid for vultures!
 The Vulture Programme – nurturing our future
Improving vultures’ public image is, of course, only one of the activities of the folks at the Vulture Programme. They have also created a vulture restaurant – where we get to dine on animals that have died from natural causes in the surrounding areas – and a rehabilitation centre at Hartebeespoort dam.
It’s the only facility authorised by North West and Gauteng Nature Conservation to collect, rehabilitate and if necessary, permanently care for injured vultures. They also work closely with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and the World Wildlife Fund.
The Vulture Programme is, however, a non-profit organisation that survives purely on donations from businesses and individuals (like you!). For example, Eskom has sponsored the construction of a state-of-the-art vulture enclosure at the rehab centre.
The enclosure facilitates both the rehabilitation and release of vultures as well as research into mitigation methodologies to help prevent electrocutions.
Get with the Programme!
Getting involved with vulture conservation is as easy as donating a couple of bucks to the Vulture Programme. However, if you would like a more personal experience, why don’t you ‘adopt’ a vulture for R2 500 a year (about R210/month)? Get your entire family involved or make it a school project. What’s more, you’ll get to visit your adopted wild child once a month at the rehab centre!
For an even more hands-on experience, get your company to sponsor a GPS cell phone tracking device and you could witness or even participate in the capture and tagging of a vulture. It definitely beats a day at the office!
To register for this programme, click on the following link:
www.facilities.co.za/vultureprogram
Over to YOU
Thank you for taking the time to read the last wishes of a soon-to-be-retired PR vulture. I know I have done everything I could to secure the future of my kinfolk. The rest is up to you…
Kind regards, Percy
PS: There’s no time like the present – especially when a species is at stake! So, if you would like to support the Vulture Programme, please email me at kerri.wolter@gmail.com today.
Alternatively, to arrange a visit to our rehab centre, please contact Kerri Wolter on 082-808-5113.
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