How power lines threaten SA’s vultures

IN A WORLD increasingly dominated by human settlement, South Africa’s endangered vulture populations are suffering catastrophic losses due to expanding infrastructure.

- STAFF REPORTER

Power lines and wind farms are turning into silent killers for these majestic yet misunderstood birds, forcing them into deadly encounters as they navigate obstacles in search of food and roosting sites. Recent findings from Vulpro, the country’s foremost vulture conservation organisation, highlight the alarming scale of this crisis.

Between 2020 and 2025, 193 vul-tures, encompassing Cape, White-backed, and Lappet-faced species, were reported dead or injured due to pow-erline incidents. Alarmingly, around 40 vultures fell victim to powerline-re-lated tragedies within just one year, equating to a loss of approximately three vultures every month. Since its establishment, Vulpro has recorded a total of 473 fatalities, a number that is likely a mere fraction of the true toll, as many incidents go unreported.