Vultures are struggling in many parts of the world, but in Europe, they have been making a comeback — and it’s thanks in large part to one place: Extremadura. This Spanish region has become a kind of “vulture utopia,” helping species that once disappeared from whole countries find their way back.
And what better time to celebrate than now? Over the weekend, the world marked International Vulture Awareness Day (Saturday, 6 September), and today (Monday, 8 September), Extremadura itself celebrates its regional day. It’s the perfect timing to shine a light on the conservation miracles that have taken root here.
A vulture saviour
Extremadura is one of the strongest vulture strongholds in all of Europe and the world. The numbers speak for themselves – the region is home to:
- ~1,000 breeding pairs of Cinereous Vultures
- 3,000+ pairs of Griffon Vultures
- ~170 pairs of Egyptian Vultures
But Extremadura doesn’t just keep its birds to itself. Through the generosity of the Junta de Extremadura (the regional government), hundreds of vultures have been donated to other countries. Over 500 Griffon Vultures have gone to projects in Bulgaria, Cyprus, and Sardinia, while about 100 Cinereous Vultures have been sent to France and Bulgaria.
Most of these birds are young or weakened individuals that were rescued in the wild. They are first rehabilitated in centres like Los Hornos, then spend quarantine at AMUS before travelling to their new homes. There, they wait in acclimatisation aviaries to get used to their new environment until they are ready for release. Importantly, before any of these reintroductions take place, conservation teams work to reduce threats like poisoning, electrocution, collisions and food shortage to avoid mortality.
The results across Europe
France
Following the Griffon Vulture reintroduction project in the Grands Causses, France, the first successful big raptors project of its kind, the Cinereous Vulture comeback awaited its debut in the country.
Cinereous Vultures were extinct in France for more than 100 years. Starting in the 1990s, the reintroduction efforts began, and in 2020, the last five birds donated from Spain were released. Today, France once again has a self-sustaining population.
Bulgaria
By the late 20th century, Griffon Vultures were almost gone in Bulgaria, until a small group of 28 birds (including one breeding pair) was rediscovered in 1978 in the Rhodope Mountains. This discovery launched decades of effort. By 2009, pilot releases had begun, and soon after, large-scale projects like The Vultures Return in Bulgaria took off. Today, around 300 imported vultures have been released, with the first successful wild chick — named “Michel,” after conservationist Michel Terrasse — hatching in 2015.
Extinct for about three decades in Bulgaria, the Cinereous Vulture started making its return in 2018 with the first releases through the Vultures Back to LIFE project. By 2021, the first breeding in the wild was recorded, marking its official return. New projects, including the Bearded Vulture LIFE, launched in 2023, are now consolidating the reintroduced population and working to bring the Bearded Vulture back to the Balkans.
Sardinia
In Sardinia, the Griffon Vulture population once numbered over 1,000, but by 2013, only about 30 breeding pairs remained. To save them, the LIFE Under Griffon Wings project started in 2015. By 2017, releases had begun, and the population has since rebounded to between 332 and 378 individuals. Building on that success, the LIFE Safe for Vultures project launched in 2021, aiming to expand their range across more of the island.
Cyprus
Cyprus, too, nearly lost its Griffon Vultures. Once widespread, their numbers fell due to several threats. By the 1990s, only 20–30 pairs remained, and by 2012, just 10–12 birds were left. The GYPAS Project tried to help by bringing in vultures from Crete, but poisoning continued to hold the population back.
In 2019, the LIFE with Vultures project began, focusing not just on restocking birds from Spain but also on tackling the root problems: poison, food scarcity, and power line collisions. Thanks to these efforts, the species has so far been saved from complete extinction on the island.
A global model for conservation
Extremadura is proving that conservation works best when it’s collaborative. The region isn’t just protecting its own wildlife; it’s actively restoring species across Europe. For us at the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), working with the Junta de Extremadura has been key in bringing vultures back from the brink.
For vultures — and for conservationists — Extremadura is nothing short of a saviour.
