​International Vulture Awareness Day is coordinated through VultureDay.org
VULTURES ARE IN TROUBLE
Vulture populations around the world are declining, with 16 of 23 species (or 70%) listed as Threatened, Endangered, or Critically Endangered.
​They are the most imperiled group of birds in the world.
12 of 16 Old World Vultures are listed as Endangered or Critically Endangered, with more than 80% of species declining.

Vulture Education Toolkit

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Looking for Vulture Education Resources? Check back soon to download our activity toolkit which includes plans or a fun coloring condor banner or coloring page. 
Visit our Downloads page for activity resources such as coloring pages, bingo sheets, and more.
Vulture Crisis Overview
​Check out these resources prepared by BirdLife International
  • Stickers
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AFRICAN VULTURE CRISIS
62%
The decline in African vulture populations in the last 30 years. ​
7 of Africa’s vultures are threatened with extinction due to poaching, poisoning, collisions with power infrastructure, and habitat loss. The fate of vultures is directly tied to that of many other key African species, like elephants and lions.
Vultures around the world are either threatened or endangered due to human impacts on the environment.  The most pressing threats facing vultures are: poisoning, habitat loss, collisions with energy infrastructures and lack of food availability. These impacts are causing global vulture populations to rapidly decline.
ASIAN VULTURE CRISIS
99%
The decline in Asian vulture populations in the last 30 years. ​
5 of Asia's vultures are Endangered or Critically Endangered: Oriental White-backed, the Long-billed, the Slender-billed, the Red-headed, and the Egyptian Vultures. The main culprit here is a veterinary anti-inflammatory drug called Diclofenac that was poisonous to vultures. This drug was used for cattle, where traditions in the Indian subcontinent left beef carcasses for vultures to scavenge on due to Hindu customs of only using cow's milk but not consuming the meat. ​
NEW WORLD VULTURES
22
The number of California Condors left in the wild before interventions in the 1980s. ​
California Condors populations crashed due to shooting, egg collecting, collisions with power lines, secondary poisoning and especially lead poisoning. They are still one of the rarest birds in the world. ​
Declining populations of Andean Condors in South America have left them listed as Endangered in Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador and Vulnerable across many other countries in South America. This species is persecuted by livestock farmers who worry about their lambs and calves and by seabird guano workers attempting to keep condors from scavenging on chicks. They are captured for traditional rituals, collide with power lines, and are losing food sources to habitat loss and competition with feral dogs. ​
international vulture awareness day
The first Saturday in September each year is International Vulture Awareness Day.
Vultures are an ecologically vital group of birds that face a range of threats in many areas that they occur. Populations of many species are under pressure and some species are facing extinction.
The International Vulture Awareness Day has grown from Vulture Awareness Days run by the Birds of Prey Programme of the Endangered Wildlife Trust in South Africa and the Hawk Conservancy Trust in England, who decided to work together and expand the initiative into an international event.

It is now recognised that a co-ordinated international day will publicise the conservation of vultures to a wider audience and highlight the important work being carried out by the world’s vulture conservationists.
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On the first Saturday in September, the aim is for each participating organisation to carry out their own activities that highlight vulture conservation and awareness. This website provides a central place for all participants to outline these activities and see the extent of vulture conservation across the world. Additionally, it is a valuable resource for vulture workers to learn about the activities of their colleagues and to perhaps develop new collaborations or exchange information.
Video resources

Why I love Vultures. 
Munir Virani
Raptor biologist, wildlife photographer
Munir Virani is a raptor biologist and wildlife photographer, and Director of the Peregrine Fund Africa Program, devoted to conserving birds of prey.
​As natural garbage collectors, vultures are vital to our ecosystem — so why all the bad press? Why are so many in danger of extinction? Raptor biologist Munir Virani says we need to pay more attention to these unique and misunderstood creatures, to change our perception and save the vultures.
More from TED.com

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Vultures are extremely important members of an ecosystem. These magnificent raptors fly in from huge distances to pick rotting carcasses clean thereby helping to control disease outbreaks. Many vulture species are now only abundant within protected nature reserves and these characteristic sightings are becoming more and more of a luxury. If the poaching and poisoning of vultures for body parts continues, there could very well be no nesting pairs left by 2020…

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