Vultures on the Brink of Extirpation: Massive Decline in Plateau State, North-Central Nigeria

Vultures promote ecosystem health by removing waste (carcasses) and pathogens from the environment but they are experiencing a serious decline globally. Vulture population decline is large in Nigeria, despite various conservation efforts. We investigated vulture abundance across the 17 local government areas of Plateau State, central Nigeria, in 2017 and 2024. We recorded only two species of vultures in 2017, and only one species, Hooded Vulture (Necrosyrtes monachus), in 2024. The median number of vultures recorded per site was 4.06 ± 7.99 in 2017 and 0.26 ± 1.49 in 2024, a 94% decline in 7 yr. Numbers of adult Hooded Vultures decreased 94% and numbers of immatures decreased 95%. This study revealed an urgent conservation crisis for vultures in Plateau State, which is similar to that in most states in northern Nigeria. Based on anecdotal information from local residents and visits to markets, this decline is most likely attributable to the widespread trade in vulture parts for belief-based use. Other threats include food scarcity due to competition among scavengers at abattoirs and dump sites. Immediate conservation actions, including habitat protection, anti-poaching campaigns, and public awareness initiatives, are critical for conservation of vultures in Plateau State. Continued monitoring and research for developing effective conservation strategies and enforcement of laws protecting threatened species are necessary for long-term protection of vulture populations.