Vulture numbers and densities in a large protected savannah in West Africa

• Published in: Acta oecologica (Montrouge) Vol. 110; p. 103679
• Main Author: Salewski, Volker
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Africa; Comoé National Park; Conservation; Density; Vultures; Vultures; Comoé National Park; Density; Conservation; Africa
• ISSN: 1146-609X; 1873-6238
• DOI: 10.1016/j.actao.2020.103679

A number of vulture species were ubiquitous in undisturbed West African savannahs. However, in recent decades most species have declined rapidly and some are now at the brink of extinction. For some species, large protected areas are their last strongholds, but even there pronounced declines have become obvious in recent years. However, we lack even basic knowledge about current distribution, densities, movement patterns and threats. Comoé National Park (CNP) in northeast Côte d’Ivoire is one of the largest protected savannahs in West Africa and still hosts breeding populations of three critically endangered species (Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus, White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus, White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis). In total, 590 km of searches for vultures and their nests were conducted on foot in southwest CNP in the dry seasons of 2018 and 2019. Thirty-seven active vulture nests (Hooded Vulture – 2, White-backed Vulture – 32, White-headed Vulture – 3) were discovered. CNP may be one of the last refuges for these species in Côte d’Ivoire and important for their conservation in West Africa. There are, however, hints that vultures have declined in CNP since the 1990s and are now rarer especially at the Park's fringe. Together with observations of increasing poaching activities, this underlines that large reserves with strict law-enforcement are needed to save West Africa's vultures from extinction. •Most vulture species have declined rapidly and some are now at the brink of extinction.•590 km of search-tracks for vultures and their nests were conducted Comoé National Park in northeast Côte d’Ivoire.•Thirty-seven active vulture nests (Hooded – 2, White-backed– 32, White-headed 3) were discovered.•Comoé National Park may be one of the last refuges for these species in West Africa.