Wildlife organisations in South Africa say the Cape Vulture is facing extinction because people are using its brains in smoking pipes to help them predict the results of football matches.
Environmental groups are concerned that this month's World Cup in South Africa could lead to a rise in the practice.
The bird is used because many southern African cultures believe the bird has clairvoyant qualities and by ingesting parts of it someone can then predict the future.
Experts believe the vulture's keen eyesight and ability to find food across vast areas has led to the impression that it possesses special powers.
