African Wildlife Environment Issue 75 FINAL

The resident Blouberg reserve Ruppell's Vulture

instead of being sold by the ‘muti’ merchants. As a result of buying back and rehabilitating the vultures from the surrounding communities, the population has grown from about 500 breeding pairs to the current 1 250. However, this remains a battle. Education of the youth plays a major part in this conservation strategy. This was one of the first large projects completed by Friends of Blouberg (VvB-FoB) in 2013. The breeding colony is always worth a visit. Allow enough time to get there, and remember to take a good pair of binoculars. Habitat The habitat includes both mountainsides and wide- open bushveld plains. There are impressive baobabs, mashatu trees, yellowwoods and fynbos. There is also a small sycamore fig forest and a wetland along the Brak River. Accommodation Accommodation consists of chalets at Mashatu camp, Tamboti tented bush camp, Modumele Wilderness Camp and Molopo Camp. A vehicle with high ground clearance is needed, especially for the southern part. Tourism /accommodation is run by an independent concession holder, Kunemoya. Contact details for accommodation C: 078 869 5240

The enclosure

Vulture release deck Go up the mountain (4x4 only!) and enjoy the view from the ‘Vulture release deck’. Take some refreshments with you and experience the tranquillity only the bushveld can offer. This Friends of Blouberg (VvB-FoB) project was completed in 2014. Vulture rehab and flight enclosure Here birds in need are treated, observed and cared for until they are ready for release. Birds from all over are collected and treated, not just vultures. Many poisoned birds have been treated here. This was built with vulture fledglings inmind as a place to recuperate

E: info@kunemoya.co.za W: www.kunemoya.co.za

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