As we reflect on the past year, we want to thank our partners, colleagues and supporters for their crucial role in helping make 2022 another successful year for vulture conservation.
It has been another fruitful year! We reached many of our ambitious vulture conservation goals:
- Thanks to LIFE GypConnect, Bearded Vultures bred successfully in Vercors (French Pre-Alps) 150 years after the extinction of the species in the region. The connection between the Alpine and the Pyrenean populations is one step closer!
- LIFE with Vultures released the first 15 Spanish Griffon Vultures in Cyprus to boost the critically endangered local population (13 individuals left).
- 27 Bearded Vultures hatched within our European captive-breeding network – we released 14 of them to the wild: 4 in Andalusia (Spain), 2 in the Grands Causses (France), 2 in Baronnies (France), 2 in the Bavarian Alps (Germany), 2 in Maestrazgo (Spain) and 2 in Corsica (France).
- Over 30 professionals from 13 countries trained in the forensic criminal investigation of wildlife crime to improve investigation and prosecution processes during the second Wildlife Crime Academy.
- A new report on the latest vulture population estimates in Europe and adjacent Mediterranean countries shows positive dynamics for most species and regions.
- Following extensive restocking efforts in Italy, a captive-bred Egyptian Vulture successfully fledged chicks in the wild for the first time.
- A Cinereous Vulture hatched for the first time in the Western Balkan Mountains (second in Bulgaria overall) following the reintroduction efforts of the Vultures Back to LIFE project. There are now more than 20 birds settled and 3 to 5 formed pairs.
- The Bearded Vulture population in the Alps, established through the successful reintroduction project, continues to grow and expand, with a new record of at least 49 fledglings.
- LIFE Aegypius Return launched to consolidate and expand the Cinereous Vulture population in Portugal and western Spain.
We will continue to work with the same passion and dedication for Europe’s vultures in 2023.
Do you want to give us a helping hand?
When you support our work, you help us build a brighter future for vultures in Europe. Here are three ways you can help this holiday season:
1. Please donate to the VCF to help us continue our work restoring European vulture populations.
2. Follow us on social media and engage with our posts to keep up to date with the latest news and help us raise awareness about the importance of vultures.
3. Talk about vultures, their importance and their conservation to your friends and relatives.
We hope the holidays and new year will bring you happiness and success.
Thank you once again for your continuous support.
The Vulture Conservation Foundation team
