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From the regal Martial Eagle to the vibrant Bateleur and the elegant Secretary bird, experts warn that these majestic creatures are vanishing from African skies at an alarming rate.
Conservation biologist and Africa programme director at The Peregrine Fund, Darcy Ogada, expresses concern over the loss of some of Africa's most iconic raptors.
Previous research has emphasised the devastating impact of human encroachment and agricultural expansion on vulture populations, attributing their decline to habitat disruption and poisoning.
However, a recent study by researchers from The Peregrine Fund and the University of St Andrews reveals similarly troubling declines in other large raptor species, which are not dependent on scavenging and are less susceptible to poisoning.
The study, published in Nature Ecology and Evolution earlier this year, highlights significant declines in large raptors, especially on unprotected lands.
Despite expectations that protected areas would safeguard these birds, the study finds otherwise.
Ogada notes that not only are birds of prey declining outside protected areas, but large species like eagles and vultures are also diminishing within these zones.
This suggests that some protected areas may be inadequate in size or mismanaged, leading to the loss of prey populations vital for raptor survival.
With over 100 species of raptors in Africa, all experiencing decline, the study examines changes in population abundance for 42 species across several African countries.
It identifies alarming declines in species such as Wahlberg's Eagle, African Hawk-eagle, Long-crested Eagle, African Harrier-hawk and Brown Snake-eagle.
The study underscores two critical challenges faced by these birds: an increasing reliance on protected areas and diminishing habitats.
Day-active African raptors are particularly vulnerable, with over two-thirds of the species studied considered globally threatened.
Human activities such as poisoning, collisions with energy infrastructure, traditional bird killings, shooting, and trapping exacerbate the threats facing raptors.
Retaliatory poisonings by pastoralist communities, aimed at predators like lions and hyenas, inadvertently contribute to the decline of scavenging birds crucial for ecosystem health.
Scavenging birds like vultures play a vital role as nature's "clean-up crew", preventing the spread of diseases by quickly consuming carcasses.
Simon Thomsett, a renowned conservationist overseeing the Soysambu Raptor Centre, highlights the challenges faced by large birds of prey like the crowned eagle, including reduced habitats and slow reproductive rates.
Electrocution poses a significant threat to birds of prey, with power lines serving as favored perching spots.
Veterinary technician Stephen Githenya emphasises the importance of strategic planning in power line placement and insulation to mitigate electrocution risks.
Urgent action is needed to expand Africa's protected areas in line with the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15) of 2022, which aims to conserve at least 30% of the world's surface by 2030.
Currently, Africa's protected areas cover only 14% of the continent's land and inland waters, highlighting the need for immediate conservation efforts to safeguard the continent's rich biodiversity.
