Among the many remarkable Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) pairs in our captive-breeding network, one couple stands out—not just for their experience, but for their unwavering bond: Joseph and Marie Antoinette. Their story is one of resilience, tenderness, and defying the odds, unfolding within the walls of the Vallcalent Specialized Breeding Centre in Spain.
Marie Antoinette: A life of trials and triumphs
The female Bearded Vulture, Marie Antoinette (BG115), hatched in 1989 in captivity at Alpenzoo Innsbruck—one of the zoos that had been part of the EEP since its inception. She was destined for the wild and was released into the French Alps, where she thrived, even raising young of her own. However, in 2005, an unfortunate twist of fate changed everything: a collision with a power line left her with a permanently damaged wing. No longer able to survive in the wild, she was taken to Asters, one of the centers within the EEP network, to become part of the captive breeding program. There, she met Joseph (BG297)—a younger male hatched in 1998 at the Richard Faust Zentrum in Austria. The two formed an instant bond and a strong connection. Despite their close partnership and repeated breeding attempts, most of Marie Antoinette’s eggs broke, leading to, leading to unsuccessful reproduction.
A new home and a new strategy
In 2016, the pair was transferred to Vallcalent Sprecialised Breeding Unit, where Àlex Llopis Dell, the centre’s manager and coordinator of the EEP programme, made an important discovery. Marie Antoinette’s difficulties weren’t just due to the wing injury—her left leg was also injured, preventing her from digging a proper nesting bowl. The mystery of the broken eggs was finally solved.
From then on, a new approach was adopted: her eggs would be artificially incubated, while she and Joseph were given a dummy egg to nurture. Once hatched, their chicks were returned to them. The results were extraordinary. Joseph and Marie Antoinette embraced parenthood with dedication, proving to be some of the most caring parents in the entire programme, successfully raising many chicks.
A pair like no other
Joseph’s and Marie Antoinette’s bond is rare even among Bearded Vultures. In moments that melt the hearts of those who witness them, Joseph sometimes feeds both Marie Antoinette and their chick at the same time—a gesture of affection and care.
Each year except this year, they have been the first pair to lay eggs in Vallcalent but their journey has not been without hardship. During the 2022-23 breeding season, Marie Antoinette faced a dangerous complication: her first egg became stuck, putting her life at risk. At 34 years old, her body struggled through days of discomfort. With careful treatment—paraffin, calcium, and finally oxytocin—she laid the egg on December 16th. Though fertile, the embryo did not survive. Undeterred, she laid another egg on January 13th, and this time, success: a chick, BG1179, hatched—a little one fondly nicknamed Grumpy (but you didn’t hear that from us!).
In the last season, 2023-24, they successfully raised a female, BG1200, who was later transferred to Córdoba Zoo where she is currently contributing into the captive breeding programme.
2024-25: The first season without eggs
This year marked a first for Marie Antoinette—she did not lay an egg. She exhibited all the usual pre-laying behaviors, even what appeared to be contractions, leading to concern that another egg might be stuck. Fortunately, she seems to be doing well, though a full health check is planned after the breeding season.
To keep their instincts engaged, the staff provided them with a dummy egg. Normally, a female would reject an egg she hadn’t laid herself, but not Marie Antoinette. She watches over Joseph as he incubates, occasionally nuzzling him—a quiet, intimate gesture that speaks volumes about their unique bond.
Joseph remains ready to foster if needed, a role he has excelled at. And in an extraordinary display of adaptability, Marie Antoinette herself once fostered a chick after an entire month without incubating—something unheard of in Bearded Vultures, but a testament to her remarkable nature. A very special lady indeed!
An inspiring bond
Joseph and Marie Antoinette’s story is about care and adaptation. Despite the challenges life has thrown at Marie Antoinette, she remains a dedicated mate and exceptional mother.
As we look to the future, their legacy continues—not just in the chicks they have raised, but in the inspiration they provide to all who follow their journey.
Bearded Vulture EEP
The Bearded Vulture EEP, coordinated by the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) on behalf of EAZA, continues to focus on enhancing the genetic diversity and stability of the European population. With a network comprising over 40 institutions, the EEP supports captive breeding that underpins reintroduction projects across Europe.
Vallcalent Specialized Breeding Centre
The Centre de Fauna de Vallcalent is owned by the Generalitat de Catalonia. Thanks to an agreement between the VCF and the Generalitat, the VCF manages the Bearded Vulture Specialized Breeding Unit within the center. As part of the strategic distribution of birds among specialized breeding centers, this unit plays a crucial role within the EEP. It focuses on pairing and artificial incubation, receiving birds from other institutions that struggle to reproduce or require technical support. Vallcalent’s primary role has been to work with the most challenging birds and ensure they produce offspring.
