南非幻术赌球加速秃鹫绝迹

南非野生动物组织最近发出警告称，南非秃鹫正在因为赌球者的大量猎杀而面临绝迹。在南非当地，盛行将秃鹫脑髓晒干卷成烟卷抽，认为这能带来预知未来的超自然能力。为了能预测世界杯的比赛结果，从而下注赢利，当地人大量猎杀秃鹫获取脑髓。南非东部地区一个野生动物组织表示，这种活动可能让南非秃鹫半个世纪内在一些地区绝迹。最坏的可能是，南非秃鹫将在12年内遭遇种群危机。该组织还表示，当地人在猎杀秃鹫时使用的涕灭威毒性很大，对人类也有致命的危险。

South Africa's vultures are being pushed into extinction by gamblers who believe smoking their dried brains will give them special powers, wildlife organizations have warned.

While British fans study the form book and the back pages, some South Africans believe the "muti" magic will help them predict football match results.

And they are hoping the World Cup will be a great opportunity for a big win.

Conservationists fear the birds, which are already facing global extinction, will be further threatened by the superstition.

Executive director of BirdLife South Africa, Mark Anderson, said: "Many vulture species across the world are in trouble.

"Our very own species in southern Africa is declining sharply for a number of reasons, including reduced food availability, deliberate poisoning and electrocution from electricity pylons.

"The harvesting of the bird's heads by followers of muti magic is an additional threat these birds can't endure."

The RSPB's Dr Chris Magin said: "One in every six of the world's birds of prey are facing extinction and during the past two decades vultures have virtually vanished from West Africa, South Asia and other parts of the world."

Steve McKean, from KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, studies the affect of vultures due to muti magic.

Within half a century, the Cape vulture could become extinct in some parts of South Africa because of this "so-called 'traditional' use" of the bird, he said.

"In the worst case, the Cape vulture could be suffering population collapse within 12 years," he said.

There are 841 species of birds recorded in South Africa but 39 of these are considered threatened with global extinction.

Conservationists say most vultures killed for muti magic are poisoned with aldicarb, which is also lethal to humans.