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Half of SA raptors in steep decline
9 May
Summary
- 50% of raptor species studied showed significant population declines.
- Three migratory species and resident raptors like the secretarybird declined.
- White-backed vulture, a critically endangered species, showed an increase.
A 16-year monitoring program in central South Africa has revealed a concerning decline in raptor populations. The study, which analyzed road counts from 2009 to 2025, found that 50% of the 18 raptor species observed experienced significant population decreases. This trend is particularly worrying as these birds require large habitats and reproduce slowly, making them vulnerable to human impacts.
Iconic species such as the secretarybird, Verreaux's eagle, and jackal buzzard saw declines of over 50% in the study region. Migratory species were also heavily impacted, aligning with similar observations in their northern hemisphere breeding grounds. Protecting these birds presents a complex challenge, requiring conservation efforts across breeding, non-breeding, and migratory territories.
However, the study also identified some species with increasing populations, including the white-necked raven, greater kestrels, and the critically endangered white-backed vulture. These positive trends offer a partial contrast to the overall negative outlook and highlight the varied conservation needs across different raptor species.
These findings underscore the urgent need for reassessment of conservation statuses for several species that are not currently listed as threatened. The study also noted discrepancies with other monitoring methods, suggesting that road counts provide valuable abundance data, while other methods may be better suited for distribution changes.
