Two endangered Egyptian Vultures have landed in the Eastern Cape after a 16,600km journey, marking a pivotal step in a groundbreaking conservation effort to bring this species back from extinction in South Africa. Eastern Cape, South Africa (19 November 2024) – In a groundbreaking step for African wildlife conservation, a pair of endangered Egyptian Vultures has completed an epic 16,600-kilometre journey from San Diego to their new home in the Eastern Cape. This marks the culmination of an extraordinary relocation effort and the beginning of an ambitious breeding programme aimed at restoring this critically endangered species to its native habitat. The pair, now safely housed at the VulPro@Shamwari facility within the stunning Shamwari Game Reserve, symbolises hope for vulture conservation on the continent. The purpose-built rehabilitation, breeding, and research centre will play a pivotal role in ensuring these iconic birds, extinct in South Africa for nearly a century, have a chance to soar over the country once more. African vultures are in crisis. Once common, species like the Egyptian Vulture have seen their populations plummet by over 90% in the last 30 years due to poisoning, electrocution, and poaching. But these birds are vital to ecosystems, acting as nature’s clean-up crew, preventing disease by consuming carrion. Their decline is catastrophic for biodiversity. And the arrival of these two Egyptian Vultures is a small but significant victory in reversing that trend.