Southern Bald Ibis programme

Southern Bald Ibis (Geronticus calvus) is endemic to southern Africa with a restricted range centered on the Drakensberg. It is listed as vulnerable because of small population size (probably not more than 2000 breeding pairs), being endemics (only occurring in north-eastern South Africa, Lesotho and western Swaziland) and having a restricted distribution (high altitude grasslands). The population underwent a rapid decline over the past century. The main threats are to their grassland habitat, through commercial afforestation, intensive crop farming, open-cast mining and dense human settlement. Hunting and disturbance, especially at breeding colonies, are also major threats.

Our conservation activities are based on the following objectives:

• Reduce the rate of conversion of grassland foraging areas to cultivated land.
• Reduce the rate of afforestation of grassland foraging areas.
• Determine affects of different burning and grazing regimes on SBI habitat.
• Investigate the role of pesticides on the reduction of prey availability.
• Maintain the current number of breeding colonies and pairs.
• Identify and investigate factors adversely affecting reproductive success of SBI.
• Set up a GIS database of all active and historical breeding colonies.
• Prepare a map showing historical and potential foraging habitat available to the SBI.
• Establish guidelines for landowners & avitourism operators to protect breeding colonies.