Yet another mass poisoning of vultures has occurred in Mpumalanga. More than 100 critically endangered raptors have been found dead, their carcasses strewn around a poisoned warthog in Lionspruit Game Reserve near Kruger Park. The poisoning is the latest in a string of deliberate killings and has triggered alarm among conservationists, who now believe these attacks are part of a coordinated effort by criminal poaching syndicates to wipe out vultures - nature's watchmen - before launching a wave of poaching activity. "We are genuinely terrified of what's next," said Kerri Wolter, CEO of VulPro, a vulture conservation organisation. "This is no longer isolated. This is ecological warfare." The death toll was 92 white-backed vultures (90% of them breeding adults), nine hooded vultures and a single adult white-headed vulture. There were no survivors. This represents a devastating blow to populations already listed as critically endangered.