At least 648 vultures have been establish dead in Guinea - Bissau over the last several calendar week due to unexplained circumstances . preservation experts monish the mass mortality event could be a “ catastrophic blow ” to the conservation of several coinage already on the verge of extinction .
“ A vulture conservation disaster is currently go on in Guinea - Bissau with over 600 vulture deaths this week , ” wrote international non - governmental organisation Vulture Conservation Foundation ( VCF ) in a Facebookpost . Towards the end of February , initial reports came in of around 200 individual doll found dead throughout the province of Bafatá , a north - fundamental region in the West African country . At first , the organisation suspected toxic condition , which it notes is a common occurrence in the arena .
“ It begin with 200 , then 400 , and the current expiry toll is at 648 death rate – a catastrophic blow to their preservation . The relevant say-so have swiftly responded to the incident , but worryingly the cause of mortality is not yet name . ”
But dead birds were reported across several surface area , further rarify the case . Instances of poisonings tend to be more concentrated to one area .
“ In recent years , we have unfortunately faced several incident where hundreds of vultures died around a poisoned carcase , usually due to human - wildlife conflict with predators , we first intend this was such a suit ” , say André Botha , the Endangered Wildlife Trust Africa ’s Vultures for Africa Programme coach , in astatement .
At this time , it is unreadable what is give to the deal death rate event ; whether it could be adiseaseorextreme weather eventis yet to be determined .
African vulture specie have regard a striking decline in recent years . According to VCF , the International Union for Conservation of Nature ( IUCN ) has name three metal money as Endangered and four as Critically Endangered in the neighborhood . It appears that the Hooded vulture ( Necrosyrtes monachus)is the vulture species most impacted by whatever is causing the deaths , posture a “ fatal coke ” to its conservation status at interior and regional level . Vultures also roleplay a vital role in ecosystems , by disposing of deadened fauna carcasses that may spread disease . To fall behind them will have a knock - on core on their home ground .
“ The authorities so far have been very responsive and acted apace – this needs to be keep until the cause of deathrate is base , ” said José Tavares , VCF´s manager .
VCF says that the World Health Organization in Guinea - Bissau is set whether the shuttle death beat a hazard to public health . IFLScience contacted physician with thelocal WHO officebut has not received a reaction at the time of publishing . The conservation organisation adds that it is crucial to distinguish the cause of last and to continue incinerating all in vultures to forbid death rate and further contamination to safeguard public health .
