Assessing Mortality of African Vultures Using Wing Tags and GSM-GPS Transmitters

Abstract

Abstract We used GSM-GPS transmitters to study mortality in three species of vultures in Masai Mara National Reserve, Kenya. GSM-GPS transmitters were a cost-effective alternative to traditional satellite telemetry. In combination with data from a wing-tagging study, GSM-GPS units provided evidence of high mortality in African vultures, particularly White-backed Vultures (Gyps africanus) and Lappet-faced Vultures (Torgos tracheliotos). Four of seventy-eight wing-tagged vultures were reported dead in a 6-yr period following attachment, whereas 4 of 17 GSM-GPS-tagged vultures were confirmed dead within a year of attachment, based on collection of dead bird or unit, indicating annual mortality of up to 33% for some species in East Africa. Poisoning was confirmed as the cause of death in four of these cases and was suspected in the majority of deaths recorded.