A lone vulture perching on tree limb in South Africa's Kruger National Park could be killed for its purported ability to help predict the future.
Superstitious beliefs in South Africa about the ability of vultures to impart clairvoyant abilities to humans has created an even greater threat to the endangered birds during the country’s hosting of the World Cup.
The Cape Argus reports that according to tradition, eating the brains of a vulture or wearing a freshly decapitated vulture head can give a person the ability to see into the future and thus predict the results of soccer matches.
The vulture population across the country has plummeted in recent years and conservationists say lotto players and gamblers are responsible.
“It’s highly likely there will be an increase in poaching surrounding the World Cup,” said Andre Botha of the South African Endangered Wildlife Trust.
He says he fears the birds will become extinct if measures aren’t taken to ban the killings and to educate the public about the scavenger birds’ crucial role in nature.
Photo: David Garry - iStockphoto