How supplementary feeding stations for vultures support welfare and conservation, and the risks of poorly managed programs.
Vulture supplementary feeding programs represent a welfare intervention with significant benefits and real risks that require careful management. Providing safe, uncontaminated carcasses reduces the secondary poisoning that is devastating vulture populations globally. However, contaminated supplementary food — particularly carcasses shot with lead ammunition — can concentrate the very toxin they aim to avoid. Disease transmission at high-density feeding stations is another risk requiring sanitation and monitoring. Well-designed programs with veterinary oversight, lead-free carcass requirements, and distance management produce genuine welfare and conservation benefits. Poorly designed programs create new welfare risks.