Vulture Conservation

Wild African vultures are in jeopardy. They are declining due to poisoning from feeding on medicated cattle carcasses, power line collisions and loss of food and habitat. Vultures play a vital role in the environment by cleaning up carcasses and preventing the spread of disease. Quarters for Conservation supports The Vulture Programme’s field and community work to safeguard a future for Cape Griffon Vultures.

How can you help? Every time you visit the Zoo, drop your token or quarter into the vulture slot on the Quarters for Conservation kiosk located in the admissions plaza.

Here are some things that you can do to help vultures:

•Get to know our local vultures! Buy some binoculars and become a bird watcher!

•Protect wildlife habitat by getting involved in your local parks, open spaces and sustainable conservation groups. Visit websites from the following groups: Sierra Club, Trails and Open Space Coalition, Wild Connections, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, Rocky Mountain Institute, Catamount Institute, and Cheyenne Mountain Zoo.

•Keep garbage cleaned up to prevent vultures and other wildlife from eating non-food items.

•Report roadkill so authorities can safely remove it. This will protect scavengers, like vultures, from injury or death. Along roads in Colorado Springs call: 719-385-5934. On El Paso County roads call: 719-520-6460. On Colorado state roads call: 719-576-1868.

•Do not leave animal carcasses killed with lead shot lying around; use an alternative type of shot.

•Avoid the use of poisons to kill wildlife.

•Recycle paper and buy recycled products to reduce the need to cut down trees that vultures roost in.

•Vote with your tokens and donate your quarters to vulture conservation at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo’s Quarters for Conservation display.