Rare hooded vulture nest in KZN

CONSERVATIONISTS have confirmed the first active hooded vulture nest recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, marking a major conservation milestone. The rare find has offered a glimmer of hope for one of the continent’s most endangered bird species.

- ANNIE DORASAMY

The discovery was made recently during the 2025 Zululand Vulture Project Aerial Survey, a collaborative initiative involving Wildlife ACT, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, The Bateleurs, a volunteer pilot conservation nongovernmental organisation, and several supporting partners.

The nest, located in northern Zululand and containing a healthy chick, also represents the southernmost breeding site ever documented for the species — expanding its known range and deepening scientific understanding of its breeding behaviour.

The hooded vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus) is classified as critically endangered, with an estimated 50 to 100 breeding pairs left in South Africa.

Unlike its larger cousins, it is smaller, shy and more elusive, making its nesting behaviour especially difficult to document.

That's what makes this discovery so significant, according to conservation teams who have spent years attempting to confirm the species’ presence in the province.

Vultures are among the most threatened bird species in South Africa, and KwaZulu-Natal remains a critical region for their survival, said Brent Coverdale, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Animal Scientist who focuses on mammals and birds.

“The results of this survey highlight both the challenges and the opportunities we face. The loss of White-headed Vultures is a sobering reminder of what can happen if threats go unchecked, while the confirmation of a hooded vulture nest offers hope and renewed urgency for protecting these birds and the ecosystems they support,” said Coverdale.