Trigonoceps occipitalis

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	CHORDATA	AVES	FALCONIFORMES	ACCIPITRIDAE

Scientific Name:

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Species Authority:

(Burchell, 1824)

Common Name/s:

English	–	White-headed Vulture
French	–	Vautour à tête blanche

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:

Vulnerable C2a(ii) ver 3.1

Year Assessed:

2008

Assessor/s:

BirdLife International

Reviewer/s:

Taylor, J., Butchart, S.

Contributor/s:

Genero, F., Wolstencroft, J., Baker, N., Thiollay, J., Ndang'ang'a, P., Barlow, C., Brown, C., Dowsett, R., Dowsett-Lemaire, F., Bowden, C., Davies, R., Hall, P., Simmons, R., Pomeroy, D.

Justification:
This species has a small population which constitutes a single metapopulation as there is presumed to be movement of individuals within its large range. It is listed as Vulnerable because information from across its range indicates that numbers are in decline owing to a variety of threats.

History:

2007	–	Vulnerable
2004	–	Least Concern

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	Trigonoceps occipitalis has an extremely large range in sub-Saharan Africa (from Senegal, Gambia and Guinea-Bissau disjunctly east to Eritrea, Ethiopia and Somalia, and south to easternmost South Africa and Swaziland), where it is uncommon to locally common, but generally widespread outside forested regions³. It has declined rapidly in parts of West Africa since the early 1940s^2,6, and in southern Africa is now largely confined to protected areas. The species has probably declined in central Mozambique¹². An extrapolated estimate of the global population suggested there were 2,600-4,700 pairs (7,000-12,500 mature individuals)¹.
Countries:	Native: Angola; Benin; Botswana; Burkina Faso; Burundi; Cameroon; Central African Republic; Chad; Congo, The Democratic Republic of the; Côte d'Ivoire; Djibouti; Eritrea; Ethiopia; Gabon; Gambia; Ghana; Guinea; Guinea-Bissau; Kenya; Malawi; Mali; Mauritania; Mozambique; Namibia; Niger; Nigeria; Rwanda; Senegal; Somalia; South Africa; Sudan; Swaziland; Tanzania, United Republic of; Togo; Uganda; Zambia; Zimbabwe
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	An estimate of 7,000-12,500 mature individuals was extrapolated from a number of regional estimates (Mundy et al. 1992).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	It prefers mixed, dry woodland at low altitudes, avoiding semi-arid thornbelt areas¹. It also occurs up to 4,000 m in Ethiopia, and perhaps 3,000 m in Kenya, and ranges across the thorny Acacia-dominated landscape of Botswana¹. It generally avoids human habitation¹. The species is thought to be a long-lived resident that maintains a territory¹⁰. It may generally fly lower than other vultures, and is often the first vulture species to arrive at carcasses¹. While it is often found on the periphery of vulture congregations at large carcasses, it is also often found at small carcasses and is probably an occasional predator^1,5. It nests and roosts in trees, most nests being in Acacia spp. or baobabs¹. Clutch size is one, the egg being laid a couple of months after rains have finished and the dry season is underway¹. Pairs that breed have a success rate of 65-75%, however, up to 61% of pairs do not attempt to breed each year^1,10.
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

It prefers mixed, dry woodland at low altitudes, avoiding semi-arid thornbelt areas¹. It also occurs up to 4,000 m in Ethiopia, and perhaps 3,000 m in Kenya, and ranges across the thorny Acacia-dominated landscape of Botswana¹. It generally avoids human habitation¹. The species is thought to be a long-lived resident that maintains a territory¹⁰. It may generally fly lower than other vultures, and is often the first vulture species to arrive at carcasses¹. While it is often found on the periphery of vulture congregations at large carcasses, it is also often found at small carcasses and is probably an occasional predator^1,5. It nests and roosts in trees, most nests being in Acacia spp. or baobabs¹. Clutch size is one, the egg being laid a couple of months after rains have finished and the dry season is underway¹. Pairs that breed have a success rate of 65-75%, however, up to 61% of pairs do not attempt to breed each year^1,10.

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	Reductions in populations of medium-sized mammals and wild ungulates, as well as habitat conversion throughout its range best explain the current decline^1,2,8. Additional threats include indirect poisoning⁸ at baits set to kill jackals in small-stock farming areas, although this species is less susceptible than other vultures owing to its broad diet. Exploitation for the international trade in raptors⁹ also poses a threat. In 2005, 30 individuals of this species were confiscated by the Italian authorities¹¹. In South Africa, this species is captured for use in traditional medicines⁷. Breeding birds may readily desert nests in areas of high human disturbance⁷. In 2007, Diclofenac, a non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug often used for livestock, and which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses, was found to be on sale at a veterinary practice in Tanzania¹³. NSAIDs are reportedly toxic to raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that vultures of other genera could be susceptible to its effects¹³. In addition, it was reported that in Tanzania, a Brazilian manufacturer has been aggressively marketing the drug for veterinary purposes¹⁴ and exporting it to 15 African countries¹³.

Major Threat(s):

Reductions in populations of medium-sized mammals and wild ungulates, as well as habitat conversion throughout its range best explain the current decline^1,2,8. Additional threats include indirect poisoning⁸ at baits set to kill jackals in small-stock farming areas, although this species is less susceptible than other vultures owing to its broad diet. Exploitation for the international trade in raptors⁹ also poses a threat. In 2005, 30 individuals of this species were confiscated by the Italian authorities¹¹. In South Africa, this species is captured for use in traditional medicines⁷. Breeding birds may readily desert nests in areas of high human disturbance⁷. In 2007, Diclofenac, a non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drug often used for livestock, and which is fatal to Gyps spp. when ingested at livestock carcasses, was found to be on sale at a veterinary practice in Tanzania¹³. NSAIDs are reportedly toxic to raptors, storks, cranes and owls, suggesting that vultures of other genera could be susceptible to its effects¹³. In addition, it was reported that in Tanzania, a Brazilian manufacturer has been aggressively marketing the drug for veterinary purposes¹⁴ and exporting it to 15 African countries¹³.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	Conservation Actions Underway This species currently occurs throughout much of southern and East Africa's protected areas network⁵. It is classified as vulnerable in Namibia and South Africa⁷. In 2007, a survey began to establish the extent of Diclofenac use for veterinary purposes in Tanzania¹³. Conservation Actions Proposed Carry out co-ordinated surveys throughout the range of this species to clarify its population size and trends. Raise awareness about the impact of poisoning on this species⁷. Enforce anti-poisoning legislation⁷. Raise awareness amongst pastoralists of the dangers of using Diclofenac for livestock¹³. Discourage the use of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes in countries where this does not already take place¹³. Lobby governments to outlaw the sale of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes¹³.

Conservation Actions:

Conservation Actions Underway
This species currently occurs throughout much of southern and East Africa's protected areas network⁵. It is classified as vulnerable in Namibia and South Africa⁷. In 2007, a survey began to establish the extent of Diclofenac use for veterinary purposes in Tanzania¹³.

Conservation Actions Proposed
Carry out co-ordinated surveys throughout the range of this species to clarify its population size and trends. Raise awareness about the impact of poisoning on this species⁷. Enforce anti-poisoning legislation⁷. Raise awareness amongst pastoralists of the dangers of using Diclofenac for livestock¹³. Discourage the use of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes in countries where this does not already take place¹³. Lobby governments to outlaw the sale of Diclofenac for veterinary purposes¹³.

Citation:	BirdLife International 2008. Trigonoceps occipitalis. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 10 February 2012.
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