Just two weeks after a family of endangered Griffon vultures — two parents and a chick — were found dead after being poisoned in southern Israel, the Israel Nature and Parks Authority reports an additional poisoning incident that claims the lives of eight Griffon vultures, two Egyptian vultures, a kite and a crow, south of Avdat in the Negev Desert.
INPA rangers are checking nests to rescue any chicks as two parents are required for a chick to survive — one to guard, the other to look for food.
The Environmental Protection Ministry releases NIS 15 million (just over $4 million) to help the authority with additional steps to prevent further poisoning.
Vultures play an essential role as nature’s cleaners.
Of the many threats they face, the main one is the illegal contamination of carrion either with veterinary drugs, or with chemicals deliberately left on carcasses to kill wolves, jackals and even feral dogs to protect livestock.
Only 180 Griffon vultures remain in Israel.
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