

IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365
The intended vultures that I was meant to work with were rescued by Rare Endangered Species Trust Namibia. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species. PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote nor encourage taking images with animals. This image is used to raise awareness on current issues pertaining to the Cape Griffon - Cape Vulture Species
DREAMING VULTURES - Awareness Art : Cape Vulture
Awareness Artist for Near Threatened & Endangered Species : Petro Diamant
Organisation: Rare Endangered Species Trust (REST)
Photographer : Judy & Scott Hurd - www.h4urd.co.uk -Namibia
Griffon 3D Printed Model : Juliane - JulPal
Art Garment : by Petro Diamant for EARTH ALIVE 365
Read the Mission Statement here mission statement
"Dreaming beauty into this world" - Petro Diamant
Vultures are scavenging birds of prey. A typical characteristic of most vultures is a bald head, devoid of normal feathers. Vultures are found on all continents except Australia and Antarctica. There are 11 species of vultures in Africa, with the majority listed as endangered, such as the Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres), which has already been classified as extinct in Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe. Vultures clear up to 70% of Africa’s carrion and are extremely beneficial to humans, considerably reducing the spread of diseases, some of which can be fatal. Although vultures are classified as birds of prey, they rarely kill other animals and are almost exclusively carrion eaters.
There are 23 species of vulture globally, with 16 of these found in Africa. Of the 7 vulture species that occur in South Africa, all are either endangered, or critically endangered. Vulture conservation is therefore a major concern for wildlife conservationists.
Vultures are facing several threats, making their conservation a difficult task. Poisoning incidences are being regularly reported due to poison being left for pests, poachers lacing elephant or rhino carcasses to intentionally kill vultures (a single poisoned elephant carcass can result in hundreds of vulture’s deaths, wiping out an entire colony or local population), and anti-inflammatory drugs, used for livestock, which is lethal when ingested by vultures. In South Africa, power line electrocutions and collisions are the most prolific threats to vultures. Superstitious beliefs create a demand for the poaching of vultures and their parts, especially the head and feet. Their body parts are used for traditional medicinal purposes in the “muthi” trade as well as for meat. This in addition to poisonings poses as a major challenge for vulture conservation.
African vultures have declined drastically over the last 30 years to the level where five species are currently listed as Critically Endangered. This decline was the motivation for the drafting of an international Multi-species Action Plan for African-Eurasian Vultures (Vulture MsAP) which aims to stop this trend through effective intervention through a range of actions. Poisoning in its various forms is the most significant threat to these birds in Africa and impacts other wildlife across the continent.
Vultures are extremely important members of an ecosystem. These birds fly in from huge distances to pick rotting carcasses clean thereby helping to prevent disease outbreaks. Vultures are equipped with a digestive system that contains special acids that are able to dissolve anthrax, botulism, and cholera bacteria. Vultures essentially allow us to maintain the functioning and health of an ecosystem and Africa’s vulture crisis threatens devastating effects in fragile ecosystems, as well as risks to human health.

AWARENESS ARTIST
FOR NEAR THREATENED & ENDANGERED SPECIES

LANDFILLS AND DUMPSITES
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote nor encourage taking images with animals. We do also do not promote nor encourage […]

STRAY ANIMALS
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote nor encourage taking images with animals. This image is used to raise awareness on […]

RHINOCEROS
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Rhinos are on the verge of extinction and those helping the species to survive require your ongoing support for their continued existence. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO […]

CHEETAH
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Cheetah are considered vulnerable with the population decreasing. Their future remains uncertain. Their loss of habitat, lack of prey to feed on, and their vulnerability to humans, hunters, and poachers has increased their risk of becoming extinct. This image is part of a series of images for the […]

ELEPHANT
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 THE ELEPHANT OMEN – Awareness Art : Elephants Awareness Artist for Near Threatened and Endangered Species : Petro Diamant Photographer : Kim Wild – Cape Town, South Africa Awareness Art Garment : by Petro Diamant for EARTH ALIVE 365 Collaboration Awareness Project for Elephants Collaborator […]

LION
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Rescued from a lion breeding farm that breeds lions for canned and captive hunting. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species. PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 do not promote […]

PANGOLIN
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 Hunny Bun’s mother was rescued from an illegal wildlife trafficking operation and gave birth to her shortly after at REST Namibia. This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species PETRO DIAMANT […]

HORSES
IMAGE : PROPERTY OF PETRO DIAMANT & EARTH ALIVE 365 This image is part of a series of images for the Earth Alive 365 Awareness Portfolio for Near Threatened & Endangered Species. This was also a collaboration with Have a Heart Spay & Neuter who not only rescued animals and offered veterinary assistance and animal […]

