While the majority of us are self-isolating or quarantining at home; the Park Rangers of Abu Galum Protected Area in South Sinai National Parks Area are doing their day to day business by patrolling, monitoring the protected areas and enforcing the Egyptian Environmental laws to insure the protection of our natural resources.
On the 2nd of May, Abu Galum renegers received a violation report of someone holding a vulture at home. The team moved directly and in coordination with Dahab Police Department and found that the valture was a juvenile Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus). Often referred to as The Brown Vultures;and it's considered one of the largest birds of prey.
Griffon Vultures may grow up to 93-110 cm, and wings could reach 230-269 cm long and it may weight between 6 and 13 kg. They feed mainly on carrion and dead animal carcasses. The person who captured the vulture stated that he found it on his garden and was taking good care of it and didn't know that it was illegal to keep it at home.
The Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus) is listed important by BirdLife International. 2017 (amended version of 2016 assessment). and are listed in The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The NP rangers confiscated the Vulture and transfered it to their office in Newibaa for rehabilitation and to be further released in it's natural habitat. NP rangers stated that the vulture is in healthy condition and soon will be ready to fly over the mountains of Sinai again.
Every species on earth plays an important role in the ecosystem. We need wildlife, and wildlife needs us. But here too the panorama is dramatic - the global extinction rate is currently 1000 times the normal natural rate. Experts estimate that on average, and without human interference, we lose one bird or mammal species every 500-1000 years. Since 1500, we have already lost 78 mammal species and 137 bird species. More than 10% of the estimated 10,000 species of birds in the planet are today threatened with extinction, including several vulture species, such as the Egyptian Vulture, or the Rüppell's Vulture or the Hooded Vulture. It is time to listen to science and take action!
The Vulture was sat free in St.Katrhrin Protected Area on the 5th of May 2020
We would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all of the hard work and dedication provided by the Park Rangers of Abu Galum Protected Area and the concerned community of Dahab.
Author/Ahmed Fouad
Photo © Dr.Ahmed El Sadek - Manager of Abu Galum Protected Area - South Sinai National Parks
Comments