Vultures nearing extinction in Africa

Carnivorous birds, which help stem spread of disease by eating carcasses that would otherwise rot, targeted by poachers

Africa's vultures are vanishing, according to a new report, posing a potential health risk to humans and livestock, since populations of other scavengers such as rats and jackals could rise as a result.

The assessment, carried out by the conservation group BirdLife International, found that six of Africa's 11 vulture species were at risk of extinction. Deliberate targeting by poachers is one of the reasons, as the birds, which circle the sites where they feed, can alert authorities to the carcasses of illegally killed animals.