Vultures are very useful birds and should not be killed because they are “natural environment cleaners” and killing them poses a threat to wildlife conservation.

“Vultures are neither evil creatures nor a source of bad luck. Some wild animals were “worshipped” by our ancestors with the ultimate aim of preserving their lives not because they were demonic.”

Mr Thomas Gyimah, Acting Manager, Biodiversity Research and Conservation of the Ghana Wildlife Society, said these in an exclusive interview with this reporter ahead of International Vulture Awareness Day which falls on September 5, 2021.

He said that in spite of their environmental benefits, the population of vultures continued to dwindle due to constant attacks on their habitats thus forcing them to move into human settlements to find food to survive.

“The threats against these birds are increasing and if nothing is done we can lose them all. There is the need to raise awareness to help protect and stop the decline in Vultures’ population”, he emphasised.

Mr Gyimah, making reference to Research Work, said that about 2,900 vultures were killed daily in South and East Africa due to poisoning but was quick to add that this scenario was not so serious in Ghana.

He again said that persons who considered vultures a delicacy also contributed to the gradual extinction of the wild birds and advised such people to find better alternatives and leave the vultures in peace.

He said that it was wrong for people to associate some birds and other wild animals with evil spirits or bad omen when they were encounted and urged society to stop treating such animals and birds with disdain.

Vultures are carnivorous and eat both fresh meat and carcasses that might be rotten.

They play a unique and essential ecological role in their contribution to the prevention of the spread of diseases from decaying corpses.

“If you poison a rat, do well to bury it, so that vultures and other scavengers do not feed on them and more importantly, it is essential to get a professional when using rodents and pest control chemicals at homes, farms and other places” he added.

By Portia Hutton-Mills