Cheshire conservationists help injured vultures get another chance

A Cheshire bird centre is connecting local fundraising with hands-on help for threatened vultures in South Africa. New reporting follows siblings Jake and Daisy Bessant, whose work includes monitoring wild chicks and helping injured birds recover.

At Gauntlet Birds of Prey in Knutsford, conservation support has included a vulture ambulance based in Kruger National Park, able to reach birds caught in mass poisonings.

Jake works with the Endangered Wildlife Trust to monitor white-backed vulture chicks, sometimes fitting GPS trackers. Following their movements helps identify areas needing protection. Daisy supports VulPro’s rehabilitation and breeding work.

The Gauntlet Conservation Trust documents another practical contribution: £6,400 for a white-backed vulture breeding enclosure at VulPro in 2016, providing space for birds in its care.

Poisoning and slow breeding still make recovery difficult. The reporting does not establish a population increase caused by this centre’s work.

But the connection is concrete: a small UK team is supporting rescue, monitoring and rehabilitation overseas, giving vulnerable birds help where it is needed.

Sources

• BBC — Cheshire conservationists support vultures in South Africa
• Gauntlet Conservation Trust — Support for VulPro and vulture conservation