MAGALIESBERG

The cape vulture is South Africa’s only endemic vulture species. it is classified as vulnerable, yet as an endemic species it is classified as endangered (between 8 – 10 000 left –iucn red list of threatened species, 2012)

It is the Gauteng department of agriculture, conservation and environment’s number one priority bird Joburg zoo, 2013).

Vulpro vulture conservationists formally requested the author to design a specialised vulture breeding aviary. this aviary would be uniquely positioned on an extinct vulture colony, in the mountain range of the Magaliesberg (spot the proposal being air-lifted into position above).

The central concept behind the design is an aviary which has external mesh skin that can decompose naturally, thereby releasing the vultures over time. cape vultures are known not to leave a colony once they have established there. Once established these vultures could attract further vultures to settle on this area. the excitement of this strategy is that it could potentially be used as a prototype to reverse extinction on other vulture colonies that no longer exist.

Once established these vultures could attract further vultures to settle on this area. the excitement of this strategy is that it could potentially be used as a prototype to reverse extinction on other vulture colonies that no longer exist.