VulPro is the largest NPO in Southern Africa which is totally dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, release, breeding and research into all vulture species indigenous to Southern Africa.  They are dedicated to the preservation and protection of these vultures. Vultures play a critical role in maintaining an ecological balance by scavenging carcasses, thus preventing the spread of diseases and promoting ecosystem health. However, vulture populations worldwide are facing unprecedented threats, including habitat loss, poisoning, electrocution and collisions and illegal wildlife trade. In South Africa, these threats are particularly acute, necessitating robust rescue, veterinary interventions, rehabilitation and conservation efforts to ensure the survival of these magnificent birds. VulPro plays an instrumental role in all these efforts.

In cases of injured, sick, or distressed vultures, timely intervention can mean the difference between life and death. In 2023, 143 birds were rescued and transported back to VulPro to undergo treatment and rehabilitation. This amounts to an increase of 49.6% compared to 2022. In many of these cases the patients are severely dehydrated and need immediate rehydration in the form of intravenous fluids. They can have fractured wings and suffer intense pain. Electrocuted vultures sustain severe burns, if they survive the initial shock. The compassionate and dedicated VulPro team travel the length and breadth of South Africa to collect vultures in distress, often travelling long distances of up to 22 hours in order to rescue a single vulture.

VulPro@Hartbeespoort is privileged to have a fully functional vulture hospital on site which includes an emergency treatment room, X-ray facility, operating theatre and basic laboratory. All new arrivals are initially checked at the hospital for any fractures, injuries and general body condition. Any patient needing veterinary treatment is either treated on site or sent for specialist treatment to Onderstepoort Wildlife Veterinary Faculty Hospital. Decisions are made on the prognosis of each individual and whether it is a candidate for release or will join our breeding flock at VulPro@Shamwari. The latter being vultures who have had to undergo amputations or severe debilitating fractures and would not survive after release in the wild. The well-trained VulPro team ensure that all patients are treated with the utmost care and empathy.

All patients undergo rehabilitation at VulPro@Hartbeespoort before they are released back into the wild, or in the case of non-releasable vultures, sent to VulPro @Shamwari. During this time, they are medicated if necessary and exercised to ensure that they are well on their way to recovery. Only once the staff at VulPro@Hartbeespoort are satisfied that the patient is indeed fit enough to move on will it be released, often with tracking devices, or prepped for transfer to VulPro@Shamwari to join the breeding flock. This can take a few weeks or indeed months.