India, Feb. 25 -- Vultures provide ecosystem services to the tune of $1.8 billion annually in Southern Africa, according to a report released by BirdLife International on February 25, 2025.

The $1.8 billion figure includes bequest values, sanitation and pest control services, as per the study, which focussed on Botswana, Zimbabwe and Zambia, a statement by BirdLife International noted.

This finding is significant as Africa is home to eleven species of vultures. Seven face the risk of extinction, listed as Vulnerable, Endangered or Critically endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Like in Asia, in Africa too, vultures have experienced alarming declines, with African vulture populations plummeting by 80-97 per cent over the last five decades, ...