Africa's raptors face extinction crisis: study warns

A new report published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution raises concerns about the potential extinction crisis facing Africa's birds of prey. The study, conducted by an international team of researchers, focuses on African savanna raptors, including species like Rüppell's Vulture, Steppe Eagle, and the iconic Secretarybird. The findings reveal widespread and significant population declines among these birds, with a growing reliance on protected areas across the continent.

Study shows raptor populations decline

The study, used 40 years of data to look at the populations of 42 out of 106 raptor species in the country. Almost 90% of the species studied saw their numbers go down.

Dr. Darcy Ogada, one of the authors of the study, said in a press release, “Africa is at a crucial point in terms of preserving its amazing birds of prey. In many places, we’ve seen these species almost vanish.”

"There's no single threat imperiling these birds, it's a combination of many human-caused ones," Ogada said. "In other words we are seeing deaths from a thousand cuts."

"Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), states that we must significantly step up national and international actions to protect raptors and their habitats in Africa".

She warns that "if we do not, many raptors such as eagles and vultures could face extinction over much of the African continent, which would devastate nature and people alike. She argues that this study underscores this pressing need."

All birds of prey across the African continent are feeling the cumulative human impacts, but they are especially acute in some regions, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa has lost almost 5 million ha of forest and non-forest natural vegetation per year between 1975 – 2000.

African raptors declining, risk extinction

Dr. Phil Shaw of the University of St. Andrews and Dr Darcy Ogada of The Peregrine Fund co-led a study, which conducted the first multi-regional trend analysis of 42 African raptors species over an extended period. The study, based on trend estimates across Africa over a roughly 20 – 40 year period, shows that nearly 90 per cent of the species examined are declining. The study also suggests that more than two-thirds of these species are possibly exceeding IUCN criteria for species at risk of extinction.

"Since the 1970s, extensive areas of forest and savanna have been converted into farmland, while other pressures affecting African raptors have likewise intensified," study author and University of St Andrews professor Dr. Phil Shaw said in a press release. 

"Dr Umberto Gallo-Orsi, Head of the Coordinating Unit of the CMS Raptors MOU and co-author of the study, said: “The study serves as another wake-up call to all countries that share populations of migratory birds of prey, both within and outside Africa. Luckily, we already have the tools and internationally agreed action plans in place to reverse these alarming negative trends in African raptor populations. However, it's evident that we need more coordinated efforts to implement them.”

Protect 230 sites for raptors

“The Signatory states of the Raptors MOU have identified almost 230 important raptor sites in Africa that need to be protected and conserved. Ensuring all these sites are well-connected and protected is vital to safeguarding the future of our raptors” said Gallo-Orsi. 

Protecting these sites will also contribute to international efforts to reach the 30 by 30 Global Biodiversity Targets agreed by world leaders through the adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Shaw also pointed out that the country's human population is growing. Among major areas, Africa demonstrates the highest rate of population growth. The United Nations projects that the population in Sub-Saharan Africa will double by 2050.

It's not just Africa facing declining populations of birds. In a 2019 study, scientists said that the U.S. and Canada have lost 29% of their bird populations — amounting to nearly 3 billion birds. That same year, scientists warned that worldwide, 1 million species of plants and animals were at risk of extinction.

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