Raptors, including top predatory eagles and nature’s most efficient scavengers, the vultures, have a crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems and providing untold benefits to the environment, human health, and economies. Across East Africa, these birds of prey are facing many important threats including poisoning, habitat loss, electrocution on power lines, collisions at wind farms, and persecution. Mass poisoning events in retaliation for livestock loss are killing many more vultures and eagles than their intended victims, lions and hyenas, and are decimating vulture populations. The loss of these species is having a devastating effect on savanna ecosystems, and, if left unchecked, could lead to species extinction, ecosystem collapse, and increased threats to human wellbeing.

Our Solutions

Close up of White-backed Vulture at feeding site

Vulture Liaison Officers

Training local teams to detect and respond to poisoning events quickly, thus preventing massive vulture, eagle and other wildlife die offs.

Coexistence Co-op

Working with communities in northern Kenya to build bomas - predator proof enclosures - to reduce human-wildlife conflict and prevent retaliatory wildlife poisonings.

Two biologists releasing a raptor into the air

Raptor Population and Threat Monitoring

Studying the long-term trends in raptor populations across the country to identify source of highest threats, such as electrocution and poisonings, and opportunities to mitigate those threats.

Biologists place a radio tag on a vulture

Vulture and Eagle Tracking

Understanding movement and dispersal patterns throughout Kenya and Africa for the creation of long-term management and cross-border conservation plans.

Raptor Breeding Survey

Documenting breeding success and failures, availability of nesting sites, and threats to breeding adults and dispersing young to understand population trends and identify actions with the highest conservation impact for these species.

Biologist Martin Odino holding a White-backed Vulture

Student Mentorship and Capacity Building

Fostering future generations of conservation leaders in Africa and developing professional capacity to conserve raptors and tackle threats.

Transporting a rehabilitated vulture in a helicopter

Abraham Loomuna

Conserving Birds of Prey in Africa

Our Impact

24,000 kilometers of roads surveyed
30 years of raptor data collected
24 students graduated
818 predator-proof bomas (livestock corrals) built
92% success rate of predator-proof bomas
112 raptors tagged since 2018
3915 people trained in conflict prevention and poisoning response
51 poisonings prevented by trainees
52 participants in our “Vulture Protector Network”
100 first responders trained

White-baacked Vulture landing among other vultures

Darcy Ogada

Conserving Birds of Prey in Africa

You Can Help

Donate Today. Even a small donation can make a big difference.
Adopt a raptor. You'll help provide food, enrichment, travel, and medical care for one of our raptor ambassadors at the World Center for Birds of Prey. These hard-working members of our staff inspire thousands of people to engage in conserving birds of prey.
Celebrate Vulture Awareness Day. Every year, the first Saturday of September is dedicated to celebrating vultures all over the world.
Shop sustainably. When buying bags, shoes, souvenirs or other articles, be sure they are not made of wildlife products and that, if made of natural products, they are sustainably harvested.
Travel Sustainably. Traveling with local companies that support conservation, visiting countries that most need tourism money, and using your travel as an opportunity to meet and get to know locals are great ways to support conservation.
Learn and Teach. Learn as much as you can about vultures and other birds of prey then share what you have learned with friends and family.