Meet Timothy Siololo, Vulture and Bird of Prey Handling Ranger
This short interview was conducted with Timothy Siololo, a Sergeant on the multidisciplinary Mara Naboisho Conservancy ranger team and a trained member of Naboisho’s vulture and bird of prey handling unit.
When a vulture is found injured or when poisoning is suspected, response needs to be fast, safe, and coordinated. The goal is simple: protect people, reduce stress and harm to the bird, and support recovery and release where possible.
Note: This interview was translated from Swihili into English and lightly edited for clarity and length.
What the role involves
My work focuses on responding to incidents involving vultures and other birds of prey, especially when a bird is injured or when poisoning is suspected. A callout can happen after a bird has fed on a carcass that may be contaminated, or when a bird is found in distress in the field.
Why vultures matter
Many people assume vultures are “bad”, but they are critical to ecosystem health. They clean up carcasses and help remove material that could spread disease to wildlife and even humans. In a functioning ecosystem, they play an essential sanitation role.
The risks for the team
Handling vultures can be dangerous. Talons can cause serious injury, and a beak bite can be severe. Poisoning incidents add another layer of risk, because toxin exposure is possible. That is why we prioritise safety and use proper protective equipment.
The risks for the bird
The bird is also at risk if handling is done incorrectly. Poor technique can increase stress and cause injury, including wing damage. That is why training matters. The aim is controlled capture, secure containment, and minimal handling time.
What we carry to a callout
We use practical tools to keep handling safe and humane. A blanket helps to restrain the bird securely. Gloves help reduce exposure risk. Where responders are trained and protocols apply, emergency medication may be used in specific situations, and water may help support the bird depending on the case. If a wing is injured, we immobilise it to prevent further damage during transport and recovery.
What the rehabilitation pen is for
After capture, a bird may be placed in Naboisho’s dedicated rehabilitation pen so it can rest and recover in a controlled environment. We monitor whether it is feeding and drinking properly, and we ensure it is protected from predators and unnecessary disturbance. How long the bird stays depends on its condition. Once it regains strength and is stable, it can be released.
One fact that still surprises people
What surprises me most is how far vultures can travel to find food, sometimes up to 300 miles in a day. Their eyesight is exceptional, and they can spot food from far away, around three to four miles.
