Bearded Vulture Archives - Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

What Drives This Wildlife Hero? The Gift of a Life Saved

Nov 19, 2019 · by Russ · In: Bearded Vulture, Bird of Prey, Bred 4 the Wild, endangered, Nikela Blog, Shannon Tagged: Bearded Vulture, bred 4 the wild, Shannon Hoffman, wildlife heroes

Only for the glory, recognition, big bucks, becoming world renowned, receiving international awards, and having a tombstone inscribed with “Here lies the greatest conservationist of the century.” None of our wildlife heroes began with or live this mindset. For all of them, it is the gift of a life saved and bonding to that living creature through the process that keeps them going. Ten years ago, Shannon changed our hearts leading us down the path to Nikela and the adventures of helping people saving wildlife. She wows the public with the wonder of her rescued birds of prey, converting many…

The Bearded Lady on a Journey to Save an Endangered Species

Oct 1, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Bearded Vulture, Bird of Prey, Bird of prey sanctuary, Bred 4 the Wild, Nikela Blog, Shannon, wildlife conservation Tagged: Bearded Vulture, breeding program, saving endangered species, Shannon Hoffman

It’s January 2014 (this was pre Land Rover) and we’re in our little red rental car. Finally we’re going to meet the Bearded Lady. We heard about her in 2012 when she was rescued from a chicken coop and we rallied Nikela supporters to help build her a comfortable enclosure at Shannon’s African Raptor Center. Affectionately called the Bearded Lady, she really is a Bearded Vulture. Albeit a very beautiful one. Unlike other vultures who eat dead meat these vultures eat the bones. Isn’t nature’s clean up system amazing? Because she was confined to a chicken coop for so long…

What is the difference between Wildlife Conservation and Animal Welfare?

Aug 7, 2019 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Animal Welfare, Bearded Vulture, elephant, lion, Nikela Blog, wildlife conservation Tagged: animal welfare, wildlife conservation

“Aren’t they one and the same thing?” For quite some time I thought wildlife conservation and animal welfare were concepts that could be used interchangeably. However, I was dead wrong. Although on the surface it may seem that both wildlife conservation and animal welfare are about saving and protecting furry and feathered creatures… each has a different premise. Wildlife Conservation can be defined as… “Wildlife conservation activities relate to the protection of plants and animal species, and their habitats. Conservation efforts are made with a goal to preserve nature, and endangered species for the future generations.” (According to the US…

Announcing 5 Wildlife Heroes to Follow and Help in 2018

Jan 16, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: African elephant, Animal Poaching, Bearded Vulture, Bird of Prey, Bred 4 the Wild, elephant, Human Wildlife Conflict, Human Wildlife Conflict, lion, Moses, Nikela Blog, Vervet monkeys, Vervet monkeys, wildlife conseration Tagged: Lynn Clifford, Moses Arineitwe, Philipo Ormorijei, Shannon Hoffman, Silke von Eynern, wildlife heroes

They’re run by small, tight teams, or even totally solo! It’s in these inconspicuous NGOs where we find remarkable individuals like our five wildlife heroes to follow and help in 2018. These men and women don’t seek the limelight. They simply go quietly about their work saving wildlife, one animal at a time. Their work is hard. Their challenges constant. Their hearts humongous. And their effectiveness amazing. Sadly some don’t survive! They reluctantly turn in their bush khakis for business pants to put food on the table. They pull away for a season to preserve their own sanity. A few…