High hopes that new Lappet-faced vulture chick can help rebuild species numbers

A newly hatched Lappet-faced vulture is now expected to play a critical role in rebuilding population numbers of the critically endangered species.

On Heritage Day, a new chick hatched for the first time in four years.

The chick hatched at Vulpro's captive breeding facility based at Shamwari Private Game Reserve in the Eastern Cape, which currently has three breeding pairs.

It’s the first of the species that has been specifically bred for conservation purposes.

Vulpro CEO, Kerri Wolter, said they would like to reach a minimum of 10 breeding pairs.

"They’ve produced a fertile egg and this chick has hatched, which is phenomenal. They’re a very difficult species to breed. Globally, there’s only a handful that are breeding and even when they do start breeding, it's not to say that every year they’re going to breed."