For Egyptian Vultures in Bulgaria, 2024 was a year to celebrate. The reinforcement programme, launched years ago to boost the numbers of this globally endangered species, saw its biggest success yet. With more released birds returning, successfully breeding, and adapting to the wild, conservationists have real proof that their efforts are paying off.
A race against extinction
The Egyptian Vulture, a globally Endangered species, was on the verge of extinction in the Balkans, with a population decline of 4-8% per year over three decades, leaving only around 50 pairs. Threats such as poison baits, electrocution, poaching, and drowning of juveniles during migration contributed to this decline, with a calculated 48% probability of extinction by 2049.
But conservationists did not give up. Through urgent efforts like captive breeding and carefully managed releases, they have started to turn things around. The reinforcement strategy, implemented in Bulgaria and Greece, has led to a 6.9% increase in the population growth rate across the Balkans, with the population remaining stable for five years (2018-2022). In Bulgaria, the number of occupied territories increased by 20% in 2024, marking the first steady increase in 40 years.
More vultures returning than ever
One of the biggest victories came when seven previously released vultures returned to Bulgaria—more than ever before. Even better, four of them settled in breeding territories in the Eastern Rhodopes: Zara, Izi, Panteley, and Deni.
But the most exciting moment? For the first time ever, captive-bred Egyptian Vultures successfully raised chicks in the wild. Izi and Lucky raised two chicks, while Zara and her mate raised one. All three young birds fledged successfully and set off on their first migration—proving that released vultures can not only survive but also contribute to the next generation.
These incredible results come just six years after the start of Bulgaria’s pilot reinforcement programme, led by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) and the Egyptian Vulture New LIFE partnership.
Six young vultures released in 2024
In spring of 2024, six more young vultures were released using the delayed-release method and all hatched in 2023. Three of them originate from captivity – Nika was raised in Prague zoo, while Adela and Sylva were raised in Ostrava Zoo. The others, Kaloyan, Veli and Electra, are of wild origin – their eggs were harvested from wild nests in the in the Eastern Rhodopes and raised at the Green Balkans’ Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre. As these birds would hatch very late in the breeding season, they would have little time to prepare for migration and that would put them in higher mortality risk.
Once released, they adapted quickly, learning to forage and socialize with wild vultures at supplementary feeding stations. Five of them remained in the release area for the entire summer while Kaloyan left the release area soon and spent his first month and half in the wild in northern Bulgaria, before returning back. Seeing them blend into the environment so smoothly is another sign that this release method is working.
Tracking their migration journeys
Keeping tabs on the released vultures with GPS transmitters is an essential part of a successful reinforcement project. Post-release monitoring showed that all six successfully made it through their first few months in the wild. Then came the next big challenge—migration.
As autumn rolled in, the young birds took off on their first long-distance journey. All released Egyptian Vultures followed to the species’ traditional migratory route, passing through Turkey and the Middle East, and avoiding a Mediterranean Sea crossing. While most birds followed the flyway along the eastern shore of the Red Sea, wintering in the Arabian Peninsula, one individual, Kaloyan, took a different route, migrating towards Egypt to enter Africa.
Kaloyan went above and beyond, covering a staggering 10,000 km—double the usual migration distance—before finally wintering in Benin. Meanwhile, Electra and Veli reached Yemen, and Adela, Sylva, and Nika spent the winter in Saudi Arabia. These movements show that the birds are following natural migration routes and integrating into wild populations, which is exactly what conservationists hoped for.
Release methods impact survival
Since the reinforcement efforts started in 2016, 40 Egyptian Vultures have been released in Bulgaria—32 were captive-bred within the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), and 8 originate from the wild. Different release methods were tested, but delayed release has proven to be the most effective. This approach, which gives young vultures time to adjust before migration, has led to survival rates even higher than those of wild-born juveniles.
That said, dangers remain. Electrocution, predators, and even drowning during migration are still major threats. That’s why continued conservation work along migration routes is essential.
Looking ahead: What’s next?
The achievements of 2024 have given conservationists real hope. The fact that more released vultures are returning, breeding, and surviving in the wild means that these efforts are making a difference. Looking ahead, the focus will be on increasing annual releases, protecting migration corridors, and strengthening the breeding population in the Balkans.
Progress is happening—and for the Egyptian Vulture, the future is starting to look a little brighter.
For detailed information on the reinforcement methods, tracking and results of the previous years and 2024, check out the detailed report below.
Source:
Arkumarev, V. 2024. Reinforcement of the Egyptian Vulture population in Bulgaria: Integrated report on the release of captive-bred and wild Egyptian Vultures in the Eastern Rhodopes, Bulgaria in 2024. Technical report of BSPB, Bulgaria. 29 p.
