A recent study conducted by the University of St Andrews and the Peregrine Fund has uncovered alarming trends affecting Africa’s remarkable birds of prey.
The research indicates that a staggering 90% of these majestic raptors are facing threats to their existence.
The study’s findings highlight the increasingly perilous conditions that raptors endure, especially in unprotected regions across Africa.
Researchers noted a significant decline in essential aspects of their livelihoods, such as habitat availability, food sources, and breeding locations.
The report, published in the Nature Ecology & Evolution journal, outlined various critical threats contributing to the decline of approximately 42 species. Among the major dangers cited were persecution by ivory poachers and farmers, ritualistic killings, poisoning incidents, and collisions with wind turbines.
Notably, monitoring efforts initiated in West Africa during the 1970s revealed an alarming trend, with the average rate of decline exceeding that of other regions.
Ornithologists are expressing serious concern, indicating that some species are now on the verge of extinction due to these factors, representing a significant loss to the ecosystem.
