Critically endangered white-rumped vulture spotted in Cambodia after 10-year absence

A white-rumped vulture, a species listed as Critically Endangered by the IUCN, has been sighted in Cambodia’s Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary for the first time in 10 years, raising hopes for conservationists.

Surveyors spotted the vulture this month at a “vulture restaurant” — a feeding station set up inside the sanctuary — after a poisoning incident a decade ago had wiped out the local population.

Bou Vorsak, chief executive of NatureLife Cambodia, which operates the feeding station, called the sighting “an important milestone” for long-term conservation work. “The return of the White-rumped Vulture shows that our conservation efforts are making a difference by improving habitat conditions and ensuring a reliable food source,” he told Cambodianess.

The same survey also recorded five red-headed vultures, another Critically Endangered species that NatureLife is working to protect within Lomphat Sanctuary.

Vultures play a vital role in ecosystems by quickly consuming carcasses, preventing disease outbreaks and recycling nutrients. However, their diet makes them highly vulnerable to poisoning from lead ammunition and agricultural chemicals like DDT.

“Poisoning remains a threat despite our awareness campaigns,” Vorsak said. “The number of incidents has dropped significantly, from more than 30 cases a year in the past to around 1 to 3 cases annually.”

To reduce poisoning risk and ensure food during lean periods, NatureLife runs a monthly feeding station that provides a large carcass for resident vultures.

The latest survey counted fewer than 200 vultures in total, underscoring how precarious the birds’ survival remains. NatureLife Cambodia partners with the Ministry of Environment to protect wildlife in Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary.