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Vultures protect us, help us protect them
These important birds that provide free environmental services that benefit us all need our help.
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Back from the brink of extinction
After suffering dramatic population declines in recent years, vultures are making a comeback in Europe
OUR WORK
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Keep up to date with the latest news from the Vulture Conservation Foundation and our partners working across Europe
NEWSLETTER
Follow vultures across Europe and beyond
Using the latest technology to help us monitor vultures in the wild to help inform conservation measures
TRACKING VULTURES
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WHY PROTECT VULTURES?

Vultures often get a bad reputation and are perceived as lowly scavengers, but they play a crucial role in the environments in which they live. Known as ‘nature’s clean-up crew’, these scavengers do the dirty work of cleaning up after death, helping to keep ecosystems healthy and providing significant socioeconomic value to local communities. 

Here at the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), we are sustainably growing our conservation work to protect Bearded Vultures, Griffon Vultures, Egyptian Vultures and Cinereous Vultures to ensure that they have a bright future in Europe.

OUR WORK

The Vulture Conservation Foundation is the world’s leading wildlife organisation solely dedicated to protecting, conserving and restoring Europe’s four species of vulture. With decades of experience of vulture conservation we have significant expertise in; captive breeding vultures for conservation, reintroducing vultures into areas where they have disappeared, tackling the threats vultures face and monitoring and tracking birds in the wild.

CAPTIVE BREEDING

We own most of the Bearded Vultures in captivity in the world and collaborate with over 40 zoos and breeding centres to coordinate the captive breeding of Bearded Vultures in Europe. Captive breeding plays a vital role in reintroduction programmes.

MONITORING

We closely monitor all of Europe's vulture species to study and understand their behaviour to help inform more accurate conservation actions. This includes tagging many individuals with GPS tags.

REINTRODUCTION

We are involved in multiple reintroduction-restocking projects to bring species back in areas where they disappeared or boost local populations across Europe for the Bearded Vulture, Cinereous Vulture, Griffon Vulture and Egyptian Vulture.

RESEARCH

Apart from following vulture research outputs to inform current and future conservation strategies, our staff and board members are leading scientists shaping vulture conservation research.

TACKLING THREATS

We mitigate the threats European vultures face head-on through executing concrete conservation actions, developing action plans and sharing our expertise.

OUR PROJECTS

Our projects are based on our decades of experience and founded on the best available science tailored to each species’ behaviour and ecology, the threats they face and the habitats they depend on. Utilising our expertise, we collaborate with governments, businesses, local communities and other non-governmental organisations to develop and deliver conservation initiatives that protect Europe's vultures.

Recap of International Bearded Vulture Meeting 2024 

The 2024 International Bearded Vulture Meeting once again brought together the dedicated ...
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Pioneer stem-cell treatment against arthritis for Bernard, the cinereous vulture 

In a groundbreaking advancement for veterinary medicine and wildlife conservation, a 28-year-old ...
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Highlights from the LIFE GypRescue Seminar: Protecting the Bearded Vulture in Corsica

On 7-8 November 2024, Parc naturel régional de Corse, hosted a crucial ...
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Crime scene analysis instruments with people observing in the background

Bulgaria takes step forward in combating wildlife crime with national police training course 

Bulgaria has demonstrated a strong commitment to conservation by organising a national ...
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