Saving the survivors: IBCP teams up with SOS Savane for vulture conservation

3 March, 2025

Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra presents at the SOS Savane vulture conservation workshop in Benin. Photo courtesy of Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra.

For over two decades, West African vulture populations have been exhibiting significant declines, but in Benin, SOS Savane is working to change that. Northern Benin hosts the W-Arly-Pendjari protected area complex that provides one of the last refuges for five critically endangered species: the White-backed Vulture, Hooded Vulture, White-headed Vulture, Rüppell's Vulture and Lappet-faced Vulture. With support from the Fondation de France, SOS Savane has now launched the project FAABA YEBEREKOU (“Let’s save vultures!”) to promote better knowledge of these species, facilitate participatory management, and reduce the threats to them by poaching and wildlife trafficking. IBCP’s Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra joined the workshop to launch this important initiative and made a presentation on some of his vulture research and conservation activities to date. We thank SOS Savane for the invitation and wish them the best for this important effort. Together we can save these critically endangered species and the wildlife and ecosystems on which they depend!

Delegates at SOS Savane’s FAABA YEBEREKOU (“Let’s save vultures!”) workshop. Photo courtesy of Abiola Sylvestre Chaffra.