1568 24 DECEMBER 2021 • VOL 374 ISSUE 6575 science.org SCIENCE
PHOTO: FACUNDO VITALEdited by Jennifer Sills
Governments must halt
vulture poisoning
Poisoning is currently the most pervasive
threat to vultures ( 1 ). Despite efforts to
better protect these birds [e.g., ( 2 , 3 )],
the problem seems to have increased in
intensity over the past 2 years. Between
September 2019 and March 2020, more
than 2000 Critically Endangered hooded
vultures (Necrosyrtes monachus) were
poisoned with methiocarb across eastern
Guinea-Bissau ( 4 ), representing the death
of approximately 4.6% of the population
of this species in this country ( 5 ). Similar
to the worst known case of Andean
condor (Vultur gryphus) poisoning (34
individuals in Argentina in 2018) ( 1 ),
34 condors were killed by pesticides in
Bolivia this year ( 6 ). Poisoning incidents
were also worrying in many other regions
of the world, such as Nepal, where 67
vultures were poisoned in April 2021 ( 7 );
Spain, where nearly 100 vultures were poi-
soned in June 2021 ( 8 ); and Israel, where
5% (9 of 200) of the population of Griffon
vultures (Gyps fulvus) from this country
were killed in just one incident with pes-
ticides in October ( 9 ). Governments must
take immediate action to mitigate harm to
vultures ( 10 ).
Reasons for vulture poisoning are
diverse. Some vultures are unintentional
victims of conflict between mammalian
predators and humans ( 1 ). Others are
poisoned intentionally by humans who
believe that vultures are the main culprits
behind livestock losses (1, 11). In some
cases, vultures are killed to provide parts
for traditional medicine ( 4 ). Those who
gather near an illegally killed animal are
sometimes poisoned by poachers in an
effort to escape detection ( 10 ). To reduce
poisoning, we must increase tolerance and
empathy toward these birds and other
wildlife. Highlighting the contributions
vultures make to nature and people and
the potential consequences of their extinc-
tion could help achieve these goals ( 11 ).
Preventing poisoning events and
analyzing poisoned carcasses can be
expensive and very difficult in some
countries. Governments of every country
inhabited by vultures must commit to
their protection and allocate more funds
to solve this conservation problem. They
will have to work collaboratively consid-
ering vulture home ranges may include
several countries. Authorities should also
promote anti-poisoning measures: educa-
tion, legislation (such as traceability of
pesticides), rapid diagnosis of poisoning
events, support for local communities,
and in-depth study of human–vulture
conflict. We must halt wildlife poisoning
given that we may be reaching our last
opportunity to prevent the extinction of
some threatened vultures.
Pablo I. Plaza* and Sergio. A. Lambertucci
Grupo de Investigaciones en Biología de la
Conservación, Instituto en Biodiversidad y Medio
Ambiente, Universidad Nacional del Comahue -
CONICET, Quintral 1250 (R8400FRF), Bariloche,
Argentina.
*Corresponding author.
Email: [email protected]REFERENCES AND NOTES- P. I. Plaza, E. Martínez-López, S. A. Lambertucci, Sci.
To t. E n v i r o n. 687 , 1207 (2019). - A. J. Botha et al., “Multi-species action plan to con-
serve African-Eurasian vultures,” CMS Raptors MOU
Technical Publication No. 5 (Coordinating Unit of the
CMS Raptors MOU, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates,
2017). - P. I. Plaza, S. A. Lambertucci, Biol. Conserv. 256 ,
108924 (2021). - M. Henriques et al., Science 370 , 304 (2020).
- M. Henriques et al., PLOS ONE 13 , e0190594 (2018).
- Y. S. Praeli, “Amenaza latente: 34 cóndores mueren
envenenados en Bolivia” (2021); https://es.mongabay.
com/2021/02/condor-andino-envenenamiento-
bolivia/ [in Spanish]. - “Significant blow to vulture conservation: Largest
mass vulture mortality event reported from Nepal
severely impacts Endangered Species,” Vulture
Conservation Foundation (2021); https://4vultures.
org/blog/significant-blow-to-vulture-conservation-
largest-mass-vulture-mortality-event-reported-from-
nepal-severely-impacts-endangered-species/. - “Dead or dying: Nearly 100 vultures fall victim
to suspected mass poisoning in Castilla y León
(Spain),” Vulture Conservation Foundation (2021);
https://4vultures.org/blog/dead-or-dying-nearly-
100-vultures-fall-victim-to-suspected-mass-poison-
ing-in-castilla-y-leon-spain/. - “Poisoned! Mass mortality event of Griffon Vultures
in Israel causes significant blow to vulnerable popu-
lation,” Vulture Conservation Foundation (2021);
https://4vultures.org/blog/poisoned-mass-mortality-
event-of-griffon-vultures-in-israel-causes-a-signifi-
cant-blow-to-the-vulnerable-population/. - A. Margalida, D. Ogada, A. Botha, Science 365 , 1089
(2019). - S. A. Lambertucci et al., Conserv. Sci. Pract. 3 , e415
(2021).
10.1126/science.abn2066
Transgender rights rely
on inclusive language
Inclusive language around sex diversity
has never been more important. In the
5 years since the National Institutes of
Health’s notice that proposals address sex
as a biological variable ( 1 ), the sociopo-
litical climate has become dangerously
hostile to transgender and gender-diverse
people. In the United States, a record
number of anti-trans bills were pro-
posed this year, and gender-affirming
healthcare faces record wait times and
unprecedented legal challenges in the
United Kingdom ( 2 ). Science can seem far
removed from the struggle for trans-
gender equality, but scientific language
directly affects trans-focused rhetoric and
policy ( 3 – 9 ).
It is important to recognize the context-
dependent and multidimensional nature
of sex. Rather than privilege any char-
acteristic as the sole determinant of sex,
“male” and “female” should be treatedMany vultures, including Andean condors like
this one, have recently been found poisoned.LETTERS