The Bateleurs Supports VulPro Shamwari with Airlift for Endangered White-Headed Vulture

A critically endangered female White-headed Vulture, progeny of the African Raptor specialist White-headed Breeding Programme, has been relocated just in time for the breeding season. To ensure its contribution to the survival of the species, she has been sent on breeding loan to join a unrelated male at the vulture breeding facility at Vulpro Shamwari, Eastern Cape.

Ground transport is not a viable option due to the extended travel time and the significant stress this would impose on the bird. As such, airlifting has been identified as the safest and least stressful method, ensuring the bird's well-being during the transfer.

This mission holds particular significance: Vulpro Shamwari recently lost their resident female White-headed Vulture. Now, with the chance to pair this new female with their male, they are presented with a vital opportunity to support the species’ recovery just in time for the upcoming breeding season.

This relocation and breeding initiative forms part of a broader, urgent conservation strategy aimed at boosting White-headed Vulture numbers—a species currently listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Lens Traveller (Leticia Cox) video story of the mission

PILOT REPORT: Claude Parnell

Aircraft: Cessna 182 Skylane ZS-SCR hangered at FAPM

Legs flown :   FAPM (Pietermartizburg) to Shamwari to FAPE (Port Elizabeth) to FAPM

Objective of the Flight:  To relocate a white headed female vulture from African Raptor Center at Tala game reserve to Vulpro’s breeding program for endangered species based at Shamwari and then to collect a Hawksbill turtle from PE inbound back to KZN, ultimate destination Ushaka Marine World.

My Report:

Left FAPM early Friday morning 23 May 2025 with Vulture, Steve and Leticia. Landed at Shamwari 20 miles NE of FAPE. Shamwari’s runway although not tar, is smooth and in good condition. Joe Cloete CEO of Shamwari had a huge welcoming party for the Vulture. Game vehicles cleared the runway of game for us on landing and take-off. We were well looked after at Shamwari by Kerri who sent us back into the air with tasty lunch packs. Flight was routine. Offloaded the vulture and headed to FAPE to collect a Hawksbill turtle and fuel upliftment. Next stop was home base FAPM. Steve and Leticia then delivered the turtle to Ushaka Marine. Steve and I shared the flying, weather good, navigation made easy with Easy Cockpit, kind courtesy of Aviation Direct. All the care givers on the delivery and receiving side were so mindful of their precious cargo that they were sending or receiving. What an experience to be part of.

Claude Parnell

For the Bateleurs

Safely at Vulpro Shamwari

CONSERVATIONIST FROM VULPRO SHAMWARI REPORT:

Author: Kerri Wolters, Vulpro

On behalf of VulPro, I’d like to extend a heartfelt thank you to The Bateleurs.

We simply can’t do this alone—conservation is about collaboration and working together.

Vulture species are in a dire situation right now, and it’s only through joint efforts that we can make a real impact. The support we’ve received from The Bateleurs truly makes a significant difference.

Just today, there’s been discussion around establishing captive breeding programmes for vultures in response to the crisis African vulture populations are facing. There’s even talk of removing wild birds from areas like the Kruger National Park to place them into these breeding initiatives—species like the white-headed and lappet-faced vultures.

Thanks to The Bateleurs, we were able to bring in a female white-headed vulture to pair with our resident male, forming a potential breeding pair. This partnership is now part of a vital captive breeding programme in collaboration with Raptor Rescue in KZN.

White-headed vultures are already extinct in Zululand as a breeding species, and their numbers in KZN are critically low. Captive breeding for conservation may be the only way to keep these birds from disappearing altogether.

We are deeply grateful to The Bateleurs for making this possible. Their involvement meant we avoided a 20-hour round trip—reducing stress on the birds, easing the burden on our team, and making much better use of time and resources.

So once again, a massive thank you. Your support means the world to us.

And as I’ve said before—you really do give vultures wings. Not to borrow anyone’s slogan, but because it’s simply the truth.

CONSERVATIONIST FROM AFRICAN RAPTOR CENTRE REPORT:

Author: Ben Hoffman, African Raptor Centre

For over 20 years, the African Raptor Centre has quietly worked to protect the White-headed Vulture, long before its was upgraded in 2015 to Critically Endangered status. We believe conservation success depends on collaboration. Years ago, we gave a captive-bred female to VulPro, which unfortunately passed away recently. In the spirit of ongoing partnership, we’ve now sent another captive-bred female on a breeding loan to join the unrelated male at VulPro’s Shamwari facility. With fewer than 150 wild individuals remaining, every bird counts. Maintaining genetic diversity is vital to the species. Heartfelt thanks to The Bateleurs for the safe, efficient transport of this special bird. Captive-bred pairs lay the foundation for future releases to supplement wild populations. We look forward to continued efforts together to secure the species' survival.