{
  "id": 711601,
  "title": "Vultures are disappearing in Nigeria - but the 'Vulture King' is fighting to reverse the trend",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/vultures-are-disappearing-in-nigeria-but-the-vulture-king-is-fighting-711601",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-12T23:19:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "BBC World",
    "slug": "bbc-world",
    "url": "https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx256pp33l3o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Vulture King, a man named Chukwuemeka Igwe, is working to reverse the decline of vulture populations in a community in south-eastern Nigeria. Vultures were once a common sight in many West African cities, but their disappearance has become a cause for concern as conservationists warn of the threat posed by hunting linked to traditional beliefs and spiritual practices. Vultures play a vital role in ecosystems by consuming dead animals, preventing the spread of disease. In Awka-Etiti, a largely Christian community with a sacred forest and shrine, vultures remain a feature of daily life. Residents believe that offering sacrifices attracts vultures, believing that their presence is a good omen. The local man, nicknamed the Vulture King, has been working to protect the birds from hunters and spread awareness about their importance to human life. He has mobilized community leaders and security teams to protect the birds and has recorded more than 160 vultures in the area, up from about 20 in 2017.",
  "summary": "Some see them as sinister or hunt them for ritual use but these birds play a vital role in nature's cycle.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Science",
        "title": "Vultures are disappearing in Nigeria - but the 'Vulture King' is fighting to reverse the trend",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/vultures-are-disappearing-in-nigeria-but-the-vulture-king-is-fighting",
        "published": "2026-08-12T23:19:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}