Background

Bearded Vulture conservation and monitoring by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and the Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme has been ongoing since the early 2000s (Krüger, 2022). Using recent and historic sighting and nest location records (Krüger, Allan, et al., 2014) and analysing tracking data from GPS-tagged Bearded Vultures (Krüger, Reid, et al., 2014), an advanced habitat-suitability spatial data set was developed. The outputs from this data analysis, plus nesting activity data, were combined in the maps presented below.

The maps are designed for use as a screening tool to help visualise the severity of risks to Bearded Vultures associated with proposed developments. Developments placed in areas with higher risk are likely to have increasing detrimental impacts on the viability of this Critically Endangered species (Krüger, 2025).

Risk map

Fig 1. Risk map illustrating the risk associated with high and low habitat suitability for Bearded Vultures (adults and non-adults). Threats placed in areas with increased risk are likely to have increasing detrimental influences on the viability of the vulture population (Reid et al., 2015).

Screening tool

Fig 2. Map showing screening triggers based on proposed land use developments in Bearded Vulture habitat.

Table 1: Mapping of screening categories to Bearded Vulture risk zones
Risk category
Proposed Land use Extremely-high risk High risk Medium-high risk Medium risk Low risk
Powerlines and Windfarms No go No go No go No go High risk
Agriculture: Plantations, Trees, Orchards No go No go No go No go High risk
Agriculture: Crops, Pastures, Dairy No go No go No go High risk High risk
Agriculture: Livestock High risk Proceed with caution Proceed with caution Proceed with caution Proceed with caution
Recreation/Ecotourism structures No go No go No go High risk Proceed with caution
Residential/Commercial/Industrial structures No go No go No go No go High risk
Mining No go No go No go High risk Proceed with caution
Dams No go No go No go High risk Proceed with caution
Development screening categories:
? Red = No go.
? Yellow = High risk.
?Green = Proceed with caution.

Contacts and map development

The Reid et al. (2015) model was analysed and categorised by Dr Paul Gordijn ? , GIS Analyst of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Scientific Services and risk-zone boundaries were determined by Sonja Krüger ? and Ian Rushworth ? of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Scientific Services, in August 2025.

References

Krüger, S. (Ed.). (2022). The Bilateral Bearded Vulture Recovery Strategy & Action Plan for Southern Africa (p. 84). Bearded Vulture Task Force.
Krüger, S. (2025). The 2025 Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini (A. T. K. Lee, S. Rose, S. Banda, S. B. Bezeng, M. I. Maphalala, D. H. Maphisa, & H. Smit-Robinson, Eds.). BirdLife South Africa. https://www.birdlife.org.za/red-list/bearded-vulture/
Krüger, S., Allan, D. G., Jenkins, A. R., & Amar, A. (2014). Trends in territory occupancy, distribution and density of the Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus meridionalis in southern Africa. Bird Conservation International, 24, 162–177. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0959270913000440
Krüger, S., Reid, T., & Amar, A. (2014). Differential range use and anthropogenic risk exposure between age classes of southern African Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus. PLoS ONE, 9(11), e114920. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114920
Reid, T., Krüger, S., Whitfield, D. P., & Amar, A. (2015). Using spatial analyses of bearded vulture movements in southern africa to inform wind turbine placement. Journal of Applied Ecology, 52(4), 881–892. https://doi.org/10.1111/1365-2664.12468