Researchers from the University of Cape Town have confirmed a widespread long-term decline in birds of prey across central South Africa.
The findings highlight a critical threat to the region's biodiversity. Because raptors serve as apex predators, their disappearance often signals broader ecological collapse and raises urgent conservation concerns for multiple species.
The study relied on road-survey data collected over a period of 16 years [1]. This longitudinal analysis, which tracked populations up to 2025, indicates that the decline is not a temporary fluctuation but a sustained trend affecting various raptor species.
Among the most affected is the endangered Secretary Bird. The research notes that several species have experienced sharp declines in their numbers across the central regions of the country.
Scientists used these road surveys to monitor the frequency and presence of birds of prey over the nearly two-decade span. The resulting data suggests a systemic failure in the environments supporting these birds, a trend that persisted through the data collection window ending in 2025 [1].
The University of Cape Town researchers said the results underscore the need for targeted conservation efforts to prevent further population crashes among these birds of prey.
“A widespread long-term decline in South Africa's birds of prey”
The decline of apex predators like the Secretary Bird indicates a disruption in the food chain and potential habitat degradation in central South Africa. When raptor populations drop consistently over 16 years, it suggests that the environmental pressures—such as pesticide use, land conversion, or climate shifts—are outstripping the species' ability to recover naturally.
