Threats that they face include persecution, electrocution and collision with powerlines, drowning in reservoirs, loss of suitable habitat and shortage of safe food supplies.  Poisoning, however, remains the greatest threat especially lately in Africa where a number of incidents have resulted in substantial numbers of birds been poisoned.  Circling vultures alert authorities to dead bodies a fact that poachers are also aware of.  Carcasses are laced with poison as a means to remove these “eye in the skies” so that poachers can continue unhindered with the removal of wildlife.  This is now commonly referred to as “sentinel poisoning”.

Only one species of vulture, the Cape Vulture, occurs in the Western Cape.  The single colony and the most southern colony of Cape Vultures is situated in the De Hoop Nature Reserve near Bredasdorp.  Although this is a small colony in comparison with the northern Cape Vulture colonies the numbers are increasing due to the good relations with surrounding landowners and their positive attitude to the birds. Presently there are just over 300 free-flying birds at the colony.

Threats to the colony are mostly powerline collisions and electrocutions.  A number of lines and pylons in the area have been retro-fitted with mitigating devices to reduce this threat.  Other threats include drowning in reservoirs, shortage of food and poison.  The latter is due to the fact that the birds forage over the adjacent agricultural landscape and come into contact with agricultural chemicals, which while a threat, pales in comparison to what is occurring further north in Africa.  With the support of the surrounding landowners and various conservation initiatives it is hoped that the numbers will increase and the birds will return to the other extinct colonies within the Western Cape.