Why South African vultures are disappearing

African vulture populations are declining due to exposure to toxic chemicals and other contaminants in their environment, with lead being detected in species found in South Africa, a research paper shows.

The paper, Old World Vultures Reflect Effects of Environmental Pollutants Through Human Encroachment, published in June, highlights how different chemicals and other factors such as human encroachment and climate change are impacting vulture populations.

The paper considers previous studies and data collected from long-term monitoring programmes on species such as the Cape vulture, white-backed vulture and bearded vulture, which are grouped as Old World vultures.