Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) Fact Sheet: Population & Conservation Status

Global population

• "Tens of thousands" (BirdLife International 2016)
• Population trend: decreasing (BirdLife International 2016)

• 180,000 possible; including adults and immatures (Ferguson-Lees and Christie 2001)
  • Estimate based on a population density estimation of 150 individuals/km² (or c. 388 individuals/mi²)
  • Numbers likely smaller, possibly c. 100,000

IUCN status

• Near Threatened (2016 assessment) (Birdlife International 2016)
  • Numbers suspected to have undergone moderate to rapid declines in the past 41 years (3 generations)
  • Approaching the threshold for classification as vulnerable

CITES status

• Appendix II (UNEP 2018)

Other status

• South African Red Data Book
  • Listed as vulnerable (Barnes 2000; Brooke 1984)

Incidental poisoning and pollution (from BirdLife International 2012)

• Poisoning is the most significant contributor to declines
• Primarily attributed to a few large-scale commercial farmers
• Smaller impacts traced to tribal, small-stock farming communities

Habitat loss (from BirdLife International 2012)

• Increased proximity of nests to human settlement may impact reproductive success

Trapping for international trade (BirdLife International 2012)

Needed actions (from BirdLife International 2012)

• Implement education and awareness campaigns
• Necessary across its range to reduce the use of poisoned baits

Bateleur populations are experiencing declines and are considered Near Threatened.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Barnes (2000)
BirdLife International (2012)
Brooke (1984)
Ferguson-Lees and Christie (2001)