Birds of prey across the world face a wide range of threats, and many species are now under significant pressure. While some challenges are local or species-specific, there are several widespread global threats, including:
Poisoning
Habitat loss and modification
Direct and indirect persecution
Regulated and unregulated use of toxic chemicals
Expansion of energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines
Unsustainable legal and illegal trade in wild birds of prey
The combined impact of these threats presents a serious risk to the future of many species. In response, conservation efforts must be wide-ranging, targeted and often innovative, combining research, education and direct action to protect birds of prey and their habitats.
Falklands Conservation – Wildlife and Nature
Falklands Conservation is a non-governmental organisation working to protect the wildlife in the Falkland Islands for future generations. They undertake practical conservation projects, surveys and scientific studies, conduct annual monitoring of seabird populations, rehabilitate oiled penguins, publish guides and information on many aspects of the Falkland Islands environment, and involve Islanders of all ages in our activities. They rely on donations and public support to carry out our work.
What They do
Falklands Conservation is the largest membership-based conservation charity in the Islands, since 1979. They work on behalf of their members and in partnership with the local and international community to conserve the Falklands’ natural environment through community outreach, practical conservation research and delivery.
The Team
They are a small team, with 10 staff based at their head office in Stanley running the main conservation efforts, and 1 staff member based in the UK office. They rely on a number of volunteers and Trustees both in the UK and in the Falklands. They are all vitally important in enabling them to undertake our work.
Protection of the environment
Falklands Conservation has been working to protect the wildlife of the Falklands for over 40 years. The organisation has worked to protect sensitive and important sites for wildlife; 22 Important Bird Areas have been designated along with 16 Important Plant Areas
Education, Outreach and Community Events
They liaise with all aspects of the community, to educate and enthuse about the importance of conservation and the environment. They collaborate with schools to give lessons, assemblies and assist with school trips with an environment or conservation focus.
How TBOPC aims to help
We are very proud to be members of Falklands Conservation, reflecting both our founders’ long-standing work with caracaras and wildlife and their personal connection to the Falkland Islands. Supporting this organisation allows us to contribute to the protection and conservation of these remarkable species and their habitats.
We will be proudly promoting the vital work carried out by the Falklands Conservation team, while also highlighting the challenges and threats facing caracaras today. By raising awareness, we hope to support ongoing conservation efforts and help protect the remarkable wildlife and nature for the future.
“Falklands Conservation are helping to understand the role in the natural world and their dependency on it” Sir David Attenborough – Vice President of Falklands Conservation
The UK only dedicated vulture conservation breeding charity
At the Horstmann Trust, their focus is on conservation breeding of vultures and scientific research into their health and incubation. They are breeding vultures for conservation programs and examining all aspects of the welfare, housing and husbandry. Much of their work directly supports other vulture conservation organisations around the world.
Why Vultures
Vultures are a crucial part of the ecology on almost every continent. They are the ultimate agents of balance in the ecosystems and are nature’s waste disposal experts.
Vultures clean up animal carcasses quickly and efficiently before they can spread diseases.
Vultures limit the spread of bacteria, viruses and other pathogens including rabies, anthrax and cholera.
Vultures are also some of the most magnificent and culturally significant creatures in the world but their populations are crashing due to human activities.
The Mission
The trust’s main activities include:
Maintaining a unique collection of several species of vulture including Egyptian vultures, hooded vultures, bearded vultures and the iconic Andean condors. Our aim is to breed from birds in the collection and learn more about them through research.
Working to improve the science of breeding vultures in captivity with the goal of reintroducing them to the wild.
Educating and training people who want to breed and raise vultures to return them to the wild. They also collaborate with universities, research institutes and other organisations to further our education and research mission.
