The current catastrophic decline in African vultures is caused mainly by poisoning, and killing for consumption and belief-based use (traditional medicine). To find out more about the key threats to vultures in West Africa, we assessed the main anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality in Burkina Faso. We analysed incidents of mass vulture mortality, based on interviews conducted in 2016 with local butchers, veterinarians, foresters, and abattoir watchmen at 44 sites across the country. A total of 730 interviews revealed that poisoning was the main cause of mortality of vultures in Burkina Faso (20 of the 23 mass mortality incidents described by respondents were caused by poisoning). Poisoning was also the most lethal threat to vultures (779 out of 879 known vulture deaths were due to poisoning). According to the survey, intentional poisoning of vultures with poisoned baits (which comprised 15 out of 23 mass mortality incidents) produced the highest number of victims (577 out of 879 dead vultures). The number of vultures killed by poisoned baits was higher closer to the borders than elsewhere in Burkina Faso and we believe these recent intentional vulture poisoning events in Burkina Faso were intended to meet the growing demand for vulture body parts in West Africa. The survey showed that unintentional poisoning was the second main cause of vulture mass mortality (5 out of 23 mass mortality incidents comprising 202 of 879 dead vultures). Other important anthropogenic causes of vulture mortality included electrocution at electricity poles and motor vehicle collisions. Our results highlight the need for awareness campaigns, improved policy and legislation, and stronger commitment from governments in West Africa, to halt the trade in vultures and prevent their extirpation.

目前非洲秃鹫数量的灾难性下降主要是由于中毒、为了消费和信仰使用（传统医学）而捕杀造成的。为了更多地了解西非秃鹫面临的主要威胁，我们评估了布基纳法索秃鹫死亡的主要人为原因。我们根据 2016 年对全国 44 个地点的当地屠夫、兽医、林务员和屠宰场看守人员的采访，分析了秃鹫大规模死亡事件。总共730份采访显示，中毒是布基纳法索秃鹫死亡的主要原因（受访者描述的23起大规模死亡事件中，有20起是由中毒引起的）。中毒也是对秃鹫最致命的威胁（已知的 879 只秃鹫死亡事件中，有 779 只是由于中毒造成的）。据调查显示，用毒饵故意毒害秃鹫（23 起大规模死亡事件中的 15 起）造成的受害者人数最多（879 只死亡秃鹫中的 577 只）。靠近边境地区被毒饵杀死的秃鹫数量比布基纳法索其他地方要多，我们相信布基纳法索最近发生的这些故意秃鹰中毒事件是为了满足西非对秃鹫身体部位不断增长的需求。调查显示，无意中毒是秃鹫大规模死亡的第二大原因（23起大规模死亡事件中有5起，其中879只死亡秃鹫中有202只死亡）。秃鹫死亡的其他重要人为原因包括电线杆触电和机动车碰撞。我们的结果凸显了开展宣传活动、改进政策和立法的必要性，