Vulture rescue shows conservation at work

Conservation lies at the heart of everything we do at MORE Family Collection. As field guides and trackers, we play a crucial role by reporting wildlife concerns to our ecologist during game drives – whether it’s animals caught in snares or other signs of distress.

This month’s report features a particularly meaningful rescue. In early November, we encountered a vulture displaying concerning behaviour. The bird looked sickly and showed severe lethargy, allowing us to get unusually close. It appeared to have no strength to fly off. Following our protocol, we documented the sighting with photos and videos, sending them to vulture experts for interpretation. Their response confirmed our fears: the bird showed signs of possible poisoning and needed to be captured and rehabilitated if found.

Nearly a month passed before we found the vulture again. Fortunately, our social media and marketing team happened to be on site that day. Together, we successfully captured the weakened bird and transferred it to Phile of the Sabi Sand for rehydration and rehabilitation.

Being involved in conservation and research work fills me with pride. It's a constant learning experience about how we humans can better preserve these environments and work sustainably within them – always striving to leave our natural world better than we found it. Our mission extends beyond the reserve's boundaries as we educate communities about the importance and value of wildlife areas and ecotourism in the Kruger National Park and Sabi Sand.

Everyone can make a difference. Small acts of care and attention often mean the difference between life and death for wildlife, and our reports provide valuable intelligence to conservation and security teams. If we all do our part and work together, we can make significant strides toward sustainable tourism conservation.