A season of science, mentorship, and community impact
Gorongosa National Park has emerged as one of the most important places in Africa for the critically endangered White-headed Vulture, a species now reduced to roughly 5,500 birds across the continent. With support from the Mohamed bin Zayed Raptor Conservation Fund, our partners on the ground have made strong, steady progress in understanding these birds and investing in the future leaders who will safeguard them.
This year’s work delivered our most detailed picture yet of how White-headed Vultures move through Gorongosa’s landscapes. High-resolution tracking data from 15 months of monitoring showed clear seasonal shifts between the floodplain and drier areas, and highlighted how closely these vultures rely on the security of the park and its buffer zone
Although one transmitter failed late in the season, the data gathered has already proved invaluable and will guide habitat-use analyses now underway.
Breeding surveys reached a new level. More than 200 nest sites were checked this season, nearly double the coverage from last year. The team confirmed 15 active White-headed Vulture nests and 90 White-backed Vulture nests, and identified 51 new nests across species. A sobering finding is the high failure rate among White-headed Vulture nests compared with the stronger productivity of White-backed Vultures. These early signals point to species-specific pressures that need deeper investigation, but they also affirm Gorongosa’s importance as a stronghold for focused research and conservation action
One of the most meaningful achievements has been in human capacity. Under the leadership of Project Manager Rebecca Bishop, local technician Diolinda Mundoza completed a full season of nest monitoring, drone work, and data collection—first through close mentorship and later through independent fieldwork. She has now become a mentor herself, passing on her skills to MSc students, rangers, and interns. This kind of local leadership is exactly what long-term conservation in Gorongosa requires.
Community engagement also grew. Eco-Club visits brought vulture conservation into classrooms, and a new education poster—developed with Gorongosa’s Conservation Education Team—will reach more than 70 Eco-Clubs next year. Diolinda also represented the project at a regional workshop in Beira, sharing her work with peers from across Mozambique.
The season was not without challenges. Tracking units proved unreliable, and the passing of Dr Marc Stalmans—one of Gorongosa’s guiding scientific voices—was felt deeply across the team. Even so, the project stayed focused, expanded datasets, built new skills, and strengthened partnerships.
As we look to 2026, priorities include deploying new GPS transmitters, completing the resource selection analysis, expanding breeding-season coverage, and continuing to nurture local conservation talent. Every piece of this effort—science, mentorship, and community outreach—works together to give these vultures a fighting chance.
Gorongosa is a rare place where threatened vultures still breed in meaningful numbers. With the dedication of local staff and the continued support of our partners, it is becoming a beacon for vulture conservation in Africa.