In Botswana, vultures are faced with several threats such as poisoning, habitat loss, electrocution and collision with pylons/structures amongst others. Poisoning, both targeted and non-targeted poses the biggest threat to the survival of our vultures. In recent years a continued spate of poisoning incidents has seriously affected local populations of already threatened vultures with sentinel killing and human wildlife conflict motivated poisoning incidents rife across the country. As at 2022, Birdlife Botswana estimated that at least 2000 species of vultures died due to poisoning in the last decade. The estimation was based on reported cases only, and as such the numbers may be worse. Poisoning has been a barrier to vulture breeding and or population increase, and if this is partnered with other impediments such as their slow breeding, electrocution, lack of food, predators etc then one would realize how important it is to protect vulture colonies. Lately we have heard of vultures in

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the Chobe Region which were found dead with missing body parts suspected to have been cut off with a sharp object. This is a developing trend new in Botswana though some may not have been discovered and reported. In this regard, it is crucial that we make a deliberate effort to promote community involvement to promote awareness, skill and willingness to protect these birds. Such deliberate campaign shall ultimately increase community ownership and will to conserve the vultures as soon as individuals attach sustainable economic value to these magnificent birds. In the long run, this will reduce mass poisoning of these birds, habitat destruction and home invasions. Goo-Tau village has a colony of Cape Vultures resident at a cliff locally known as Manonyeng (a place where the vultures live) The founder of BLDCT has been awarded a 1-hectare plot at least 3km away from the vulture cliff. This plot is ear marked for this project, as it is also at least 3km away from the village. Previous research findings have established that the vultures (including chicks) lack calcium which is very crucial for strong bone development. Therefore, the adult birds may lay eggs which do not have strong shells and or the chicks may crush down the cliff and die as they try to take their first flight. We wish to approach this disturbing problem by setting up a vulture restaurant where we shall provide the birds with crushed bones from the 2nd week of March when their breeding season starts through to June so that their egg shells are stronger. Then we shall provide them with the 2nd feeding program after their eggs are hatched, from August through to November so that they feed their chicks. We would also build a bird-viewing hide which shall be used by researchers, farmers, youths and community at large for educational tours. The vulture restaurant shall be a wide open area to allow birds to land and take off but fenced. The bird-viewing hide shall be within the fenced enclosure as well. Therefore, the community nearby and all other stakeholders around the country shall be educated about the crucial role that the vultures play in the ecosystem. The bird-viewing hide shall therefore operate as an education center where young children, farmers, out-of-school youth, orphaned and vulnerable children and the disabled shall access to be able to receive ecological training especially when the Cape Vultures are not feeding. This approach shall be relevant to addressing the Operational Phase (OP) 7 strategic initiative of Community-based conservation of threatened ecosystem and species in that the project shall protect birds and their habitat.

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