ARCHIVE
25
Y EA RS AGO
Raptors play
an important role in the
farming ecosystem, and
should be protected.
The Northern Cape is home to
enthusiastic raptor conservationists.
These landowners take pride in
conserving the raptors on their
properties and in certain areas,
breeding eagles and vultures
are protected. In recognition of
these landowners’ conservation
efforts, they are presented with
certificates. It is also believed that
this will encourage neighbouring
landowners to protect these birds.
Not so long ago, scavenging species,
such as magnificent bateleurs, were
a common sight. During the past few
decades, these birds have come into
conflict with man’s farming activities.
Bateleurs are now listed in the Red
Data Book of Birds of South
Africa. Unless the factors responsible
for their present status are reversed,
they will probably become extinct in
the Cape within the next few years.
Loss of habitat, indirect poisoning,
direct persecution, disturbance,
reservoir drownings and power line
casualties are some of the factors that
have contributed to the present status
of raptors in the Northern Cape.
It is particularly the bateleur and
other scavenging species that are most
threatened. These scavengers have the
important ecological role of clearing
the veld of carcasses. Vultures, in
particular, rapidly consume theremains of dead animals and so
prevent the carcasses being hosts to
various diseases and pests, such as
blowfly, that may spread to livestock.
Many scavenging raptors die
every year after feeding on poisoned
carcasses placed in the veld to control
so-called problem animals, such as
black-backed jackal and caracal.
During February 1994, 71 white-
backed vultures were poisoned by a
horse carcass placed on a farm near
Tosca. The carcass had apparentlyBELOW:
Black eagles. One
pair can kill about
400 dassies yearly.
This photograph
accompanied the
article in our
13 May 1994 issue.Rand values have
been adapted
for inflation.This article has
been edited to
adhere to the
current style of
Farmer’s Weekly.13 MAY 1994Landowners
help conserve
birds of prey
DEVOTED TO SA FARMING SINCE 1911
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been laced with strychnine in an
attempt to kill black-backed jackals
that were allegedly killing game in the
farmer’s small game camp. Only one
black-backed jackal was poisoned!
The solution is simple; use poisons
responsibly (if at all), but alternatively
use more environmentally acceptable
control methods such as cage traps.
The benefits of raptors on farms are
unquestionable. Birds of prey, by
helping control pests and problem
animals, are allied to the farmer
and should be protected. One pair
of black eagles, for example, kill
about 400 dassies per year; steppe
eagles eat termites; lesser kestrels
consume locusts, while martial
eagles eat mongooses and suricates.
Without raptors, farmers
have to look at alternative, often
environmentally unacceptable
methods to control animals. Some
farmers, however, are not convinced
and argue that eagles kill their lambs
after finding the birds at a carcass.
Often they are wrong as the lambs
had been stillborn or killed by a
mammalian predator. Even if raptors
are occasionally guilty, the limited
loss incurred cannot be compared
with the advantages of having these
birds on the property. A study by
Rob Davies in the Karoo has shown
that, in terms of stock losses, two
pairs of black eagles cost a farmer,
on average, R25 [about R107] per
year. Dassies within those eagles’
territories, in comparison, would
in the eagles’ absence eat R2 000
worth [R8 582] of veld yearly.
The awarding of certificates is being
coordinated by the Northern Cape
Raptor Conservation Forum. This
forum, comprising representatives
from all organisations directly
or indirectly involved in raptor
conservation, was established with the
main objective of conserving raptors
in this region. At a function at the
McGregor Museum in Kimberley,
the first certificates were presented
to 23 landowners in the Kimberley
area. In De Aar, certificates have
also been awarded to farmers who
conserve nesting black eagles on their
properties. Seventy-three certificates
were presented to Kalahari
landowners at a ‘mini-symposium’
convened in Van Zylsrus.
▪FW10 farmer’sweekly 2 AUGUST 2019