Showcasing ROTARY CLUB OF BRITS HARTBEESPOORT, SOUTH AFRICA Preserve Planet Earth Project: CAPE VULTURE FEEDING\MONITORING PROJECT
Vulture populations face a dearth of man-made hazards that include a diminishing food source, electrocution on electricity pylons, drowning in farm brick dams and ingesting poisons meant for problem animal control. Seven of the nine vulture species found in southern Africa are now listed in the Eskom Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa. The Eskom Red Data Book assess the extinction threats animals in southern Africa.
The values of vulture restaurants have been well articulated over the years and include allowing for the monitoring of vulture populations, assisting the population by providing an intermittent source of safe food, a source of calcium (bone-chips) for bone development in growing chicks, a venue for research, education and awareness.
Rotary Club of Brits Hartbeespoort have helped in the construction of a hide ($3,500), ablution facility($2,000) with wildlife garden($4,000) & cooler room( $7,000 ) (Approx $16,500 to complete). This uniquely designed hide close to the feeding spot will enable visitors\tourists and photographers to get close up to the birds. It is planned to utilize a 12 m shipping container and fit it out with one way glass and have it insulated and carpeted out. The front row will have a special photographer’s area designed to accommodate up to 9 photographers and will be of international standard to draw photographers worldwide. The hide will accommodate 18 visitors and will include an ablution facility and a wildlife garden. Any contributions will assist in this final phase and all donors will be featured on a large sign in the hide. Please contact John Wesson for further info: jjwesson674@gmail.com
Over the years the project has hosted many visitors both local and from all over the world, school groups and individuals. The International Vulture Day held yearly in September has been hosted by Nyoka Ridge project for a number of years now with attendance growing to well over 100 visitors.
The latest one held in 2018 had over 80 visitors. In 2017 the Rotary International President Ian Riseley with a group of international Rotarians from all over the World visited the project and a number of trees were planted to commemorate the occasion. A funding campaign was started in June 18 to fund the new hide. Now that all facilities are up to standard and the hide is under construction we will start charging an entrance fee for all visitors excluding project partners. The display of soaring and spiraling by these endangered birds is unequaled anywhere else in this country.