Safeguarding Uganda’s Only Breeding Population of Rüppell’s Vultures

Across Africa, there are eleven (11) vulture species, and based on surveys, nine (9) of these occur in Uganda, mainly within national parks and wildlife reserves. This makes Uganda a critically important country for vulture conservation on the continent.

The nine species recorded in Uganda are: African White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus), Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli), Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), White-headed Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis), Palm-nut Vulture (Gypohierax angolensis), Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus), Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus – formerly bred, now a rare visitor), and Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus – rare migrant).

Vultures play a vital ecological role as nature’s clean-up specialists. By feeding on animal carcasses, they provide natural waste disposal services, recycle nutrients back into ecosystems, and help maintain environmental sanitation. This process reduces the spread of dangerous diseases such as rabies, botulism, and brucellosis, thereby protecting both human and animal health.

Rüppell’s Vulture (Gyps rueppelli) is the world’s highest-flying bird species and one of Africa’s most threatened vultures. It has an extremely slow reproductive rate, producing only one chick per year, and individuals take approximately 5–6 years to reach breeding maturity. These biological traits make the species highly vulnerable to population decline and slow recovery following threats or disturbances.

In Uganda, the only known breeding site for this species is the Ngolonyako nesting site, located in Luku Central Forest Reserve, approximately 60 km north of Murchison Falls National Park.

This landscape represents a unique conservation challenge shaped by the complex interaction between host communities and a significant refugee population. Arua District is a rapidly growing economic and trade hub linking Uganda with South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Over 86% of the population relies directly on natural resources for their livelihoods (Arua District Investment Profile, 2017). The region also hosts large numbers of refugees from conflict-affected areas of South Sudan and the DRC.

Limited livelihood options have intensified pressure on local forests through farming expansion, charcoal production, and other resource-dependent activities that threaten the vultures’ nesting habitat and long-term survival.

With support from the African Bird Club and Rufford Small Grants, Oruka Ivan, a Research Assistant at NatureUganda, is leading a research that aims to assess the population status of Rüppell’s Vultures, breeding success, and specific threats affecting the species.

The research explores local ethno-ornithological knowledge and community perceptions, providing insights into traditional beliefs and practices that can be integrated into community-led conservation approaches.

A cornerstone of the study is building local capacity through citizen science, training community volunteers, and promoting gender mainstreaming in conservation. Community members will be supported to monitor nests, report illegal activities, and raise awareness of vultures’ ecological roles. This approach empowers local people as conservation stewards and fosters long-term ownership and responsibility for protecting the species and its habitat.