International Vulture Awareness Day: Understand And Appreciate Them

Prasenjit Das
Mar 21, 2023 By Prasenjit Das
Originally Published on Mar 21, 2023
Fact-checked by Dolly Chhatwani
People from all around the world celebrate this event to raise awareness.
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Age: 1-99
Read time: 4.2 Min

Where is International Vulture Awareness Day celebrated?

International Vulture Awareness Day is a global holiday and is celebrated all over the world.

Who is International Vulture Awareness Day celebrated by?

In 2022, many organizations from Asia, America, and Europe celebrated this event. Some of them are the American Eagle Foundation, Banham Zoological Gardens, Karnataka Vulture Conservation Trust, and Vulture Conservation Foundation (Europe).

When did International Vulture Awareness Day first start?

International Vulture Awareness Day began in 2009. The world celebrated this event for the first time on the first Saturday of September 2009.

Who started International Vulture Awareness Day?

The Hawk Conservatory (United Kingdom) and the Birds of Prey Programme (South Africa) jointly started this international event.

Vulture perched on a dried tree

History And Timeline

In this section, we will see some historical events related to vultures and International Vulture Awareness Day. 

The White-rumped Vulture on the Verge of Extinction

The 2000 IUCN Red List declared the White-rumped Vulture to be Critically Endangered.

2000

The Indian Vulture Become Endangered

In 2002, the IUCN Red List declared the Indian vulture as a Critically Endangered species.

2002

Founding of the Event

The Hawk Conservatory Trust and the Birds of Prey Programme created International Vulture Awareness Day.

2009

Hooded Vulture on the Verge of Extinction

In their 2016 List of Threatened Species, the ICUN has declared the Hooded Vulture or Necrosyrtes monachus as Critically Endangered.

2016

10th Anniversary of the Event

In 2019, the world celebrated the 10th anniversary of International Vulture Awareness Day.

2019

International Vulture Awareness Day Traditions And Customs

As stated earlier, 16 out of 23 vulture species have become endangered. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has also declared some species Critically Endangered. These are the Hooded Vulture, White-rumped Vulture, and Indian Vulture.

To promote vulture conservation, a British conservation group named the Hawk Conservatory Trust and a South African group named the Birds of Prey Programme began this event. On the first Saturday of September 2009, the world celebrated International Vulture Awareness Day for the first time.

Besides vultures, other birds of prey, like eagles and hawks, have also lost their populations drastically over the years.

Nevertheless, there are still a few species that the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) considers the Least Concerns. These are Cinereous vultures and Griffon vultures. Apart from them, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has also declared the Turkey Vulture as a Least Concern species.

To celebrate this day, many conservation groups and zoos host special events. They also organize activities like walking with vultures, vulture-feeding demonstrations, and scavenger hunts. Besides these, they also give presentations on the decreasing populations of vultures.

Ways To Observe Or Celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day

The best way to celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day is to learn more about these birds. You can take the day to increase your knowledge about the natural history of vultures. You can also learn about the crucial role vultures play in nature and also why their number is decreasing every day.

Aside from vultures, you can also consider learning about eagles and hawks too. These birds of prey are also facing the same problem as vultures. Their numbers are also going down every day. In the United States, people celebrate National Save the Eagles Day every year on January 10.

Once you have gathered enough knowledge, you can share it with your family members and friends. Inform them of how these scavengers keep the environment clean and free of contagious diseases.

Finally, post something nice on your social media account. It will let your acquaintances know about this brilliant event and encourage them to celebrate it as well.

Facts And Stats

  • Currently, our planet has 23 species of vultures. Among them, 16 have become endangered. As a result, people celebrate International Vulture Awareness Day to promote vulture conservation.
  • In 2009, the Hawk Conservatory Trust and the Birds of Prey Programme created this international holiday.
  • On September 2, 2023, we will celebrate the 14th anniversary of International Vulture Awareness Day.

Are vultures endangered?

Yes, most vulture species have become endangered. There are 23 extant vulture species on our planet. Among them, 16 are currently endangered.

 

Who celebrates International Vulture Awareness Day?

Many bird conservation (especially vulture conservation) groups around the world celebrate this holiday every year. Some of them are the American Eagle Foundation, Bird Education Society, Endangered Wildlife Trust, and Blackland Prairie Raptor Center.

 

What is the motto of International Vulture Awareness Day?

The event does not have an official motto. But its aim is to raise awareness about the importance of vultures in the environment. The international holiday also aims to promote vulture conservation.

 

What are the goals of International Vulture Awareness Day?

International Vulture Awareness Day has two major goals. The first one is to raise awareness among people about the importance of vultures in nature. The second one is to promote vulture conservation.

 

What are some advantages of celebrating International Vulture Awareness Day?

Vultures provide us with many ecosystem services. By devouring the carcasses of dead animals, they keep the environment clean. Through the celebration of this day, we can inform people about this and inspire them to protect the endangered vulture species.

 

How does celebrating International Vulture Awareness Day protect vultures?

This international holiday informs others about the importance of vultures in nature. It also encourages people and organizations to protect vultures.

 

When Is This Day Celebrated

  • Saturday, September 04, 2021
  • Saturday, September 03, 2022
  • Saturday, September 02, 2023
  • Saturday, September 07, 2024
  • Saturday, September 06, 2025

Facts

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Sources

https://naturecanada.ca/news/blog/awareness-day-celebrating-vultures/

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22697627/131941613

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IUCN_Red_List#1964_Red_List_of_Threatened_Plants

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/international-vulture-awareness-day-first-saturday-in-september/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_griffon_vulture

https://nationaldaycalendar.com/save-the-eagles-day-january-10/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turkey_vulture

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695185/118599398

https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/international-vultures-awareness-day-know-its-history-and-aim-101630712237938-amp.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_World_vulture

https://www.iucn.org/content/extinction-crisis-escalates-red-list-shows-apes-corals-vultures-dolphins-all-danger

https://greenbalkans.org/bg/-eto-kak-premina-mezhdunarodniya-den-na-leshoyadite-u-nas-p7232h

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vulture

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinereous_vulture

https://www.encyclopedia.com/environment/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/new-world-vultures-cathartidae

https://nationaltoday.com/national-save-the-eagles-day/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_vulture#:~:text=The Indian vulture (Gyps indicusas the population severely declined

http://www.carolinaraptorcenter.org/visit/international-vulture-awareness-day/

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695231/154915043

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White-rumped_vulture

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooded_vulture

https://4vultures.org/blog/international-vulture-awareness-day-2021-is-two-weeks-away/

https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22695219/157719127

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Written by Prasenjit Das

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature

Prasenjit Das picture

Prasenjit DasBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature

Having obtained a Bachelor's degree in English language and literature from West Bengal State University - Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, followed by a Master's degree in English language and literature from Calcutta University, Prasenjit has several years of experience as a content writer, Prasenjit has mastered the art of producing cohesive and coherent copy. To further refine his skills and continuously challenge his creativity, Prasenjit successfully completed the "Introduction to Creative Writing Course" offered by British Council. Outside of his professional pursuits, Prasenjit finds inspiration in engaging in various creative activities, including writing poetry.

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Fact-checked by Dolly Chhatwani

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Literature

Dolly Chhatwani picture

Dolly ChhatwaniBachelor of Arts specializing in English Language and Literature, Master of Arts specializing in English Literature

A skilled professional-client manager, Dolly brings a wealth of experience to any team. Holding a Master's in English Literature, she has worked in various customer relations and operations management roles throughout her career. With a degree in both English and Psychology, she is passionate about promoting mental health. Dolly is an avid reader, particularly of classic literature, and enjoys writing book reviews. Additionally, she maintains a food blog and is active on social media.

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