Secretary Bird Welfare and Savanna Habitat Decline in Africa

The secretary bird is a large, iconic terrestrial raptor of African savanna, facing welfare threats from habitat loss, human persecution, and the illegal wild bird trade.

Key Facts

Secretary birds are large raptors that hunt on foot, stamping prey with powerful legs
They favour open savanna with short grass for hunting snakes, rodents, and large insects
The species has declined by over 50% across its range in three generations
Illegal capture for the wild bird trade removes individuals from wild populations
Habitat conversion to agriculture and human settlement reduces hunting ground availability

Welfare Considerations

Secretary bird welfare is threatened by habitat loss that removes the open savanna required for their distinctive ground-hunting behaviour. Confined to fragmented habitat patches, birds must travel further between hunting areas, increasing energy expenditure and exposure to road mortality and human persecution. Capture for the illegal wild bird trade causes acute stress, physical injury, and typically death during transport. Wild secretary birds are specialised hunters adapted to specific habitat conditions and do not thrive in captivity without meeting complex behavioural and dietary needs.

What You Can Do

Support BirdLife International programmes monitoring secretary bird populations across Africa
Advocate for protection of open savanna landscapes from agricultural conversion
Report suspected illegal capture or trade of secretary birds to CITES enforcement authorities
Engage with African national parks authorities on secretary bird habitat management
Donate to raptor conservation organisations working in secretary bird range countries