When a Bearded Vulture named Lopezosa was found dead in the municipality of Nerpio, Albacete, Spain, on 21 February 2024. The tragic loss of this bird, classified as endangered in the Spanish Catalogue of Threatened Species, was met with swift action, as authorities launched a thorough investigation that ultimately led to the arrest of the perpetrator responsible for fatally shooting the vulture.
Lopezosa, a fruit of the Andalusian reintroduction project
Lopezosa was a significant bird in the Andalusian reintroduction project, currently led by the Junta de Andalucía and the Vulture Conservation Foundation. Its aim is to reestablish a sustainable population of Bearded Vultures in the region.
Lopezosa was the fifth chick that hatched in the wild to Blimunda and Tono, one of the first pairs formed after the releases of the Andalusian reintroduction project began in 2006. Lopezosa hatched in 2021 and was equipped with a GPS transmitter by Seprona de la Guardia Civil and Coordinación Plan de Recuperación de Aves Necrófagas de Andalucía, allowing the project team to closely track her movements and progress.
Reintroducing the Bearded Vulture into the wild takes time and patience, especially considering the species’ biology. Bearded Vultures only breed at 8-10 years old, and typically only one chick survives per breeding season. After 18 years, only 17 chicks have hatched in Andalusia’s wild, highlighting the importance of each individual and the devastating impact of events like Lopezosa’s death.
The investigation process
The GPS data proved crucial in alerting authorities to Lopezosa’s tragic fate, and on February 21, 2024, the Nature Protection Team (Seprona) of the Civil Guard Command in Albacete sprang into action. Upon notification of the Bearded Vulture’s death, Seprona swiftly launched an investigation, with environmental agents in the province quickly locating the animal’s carcass, which was transferred to the Wildlife Recovery Center of Albacete for analysis and study.
The promptness of this action allowed for the gathering of relevant information for the investigation, and Seprona developed several lines of inquiry, managing to collect GPS data on the movements of the bird, details related to its necropsy, and information about individuals who may have been engaged in any activity in the area on the day the Bearded Vulture was killed.
Bringing the perpetrator to justice
The investigation revealed that the bird died from shots fired from a shotgun, using small game ammunition, specifying that the shot that caused its death was at close range, with up to 32 lead projectiles found in its body. The shots were fired intentionally and at close range to the animal, indicating a conscious and voluntary act.
After gathering all the information, the investigations led to the arrest of a resident of Murcia, who is alleged to have committed the crime. The arrested individual could face prison sentences ranging from six months to two years, fines from eight to twenty-four months, and disqualification from the right to hunt for two years.
This is not the first time a Bearded Vulture has been killed in the province of Albacete. Since 2017, there have been three cases of shooting deaths of Bearded Vultures in the province. The Nature Protection Service has investigated a total of six individuals for committing three crimes against the protection of flora and fauna.
The importance of prosecuting wildlife crimes
The prosecution of wildlife crimes is crucial in protecting endangered species and preserving biodiversity. Spain has been a pioneer in combating wildlife crime, and its approach has served as a model for Europe.
Spain’s commitment to combating wildlife crime serves as a powerful example for other countries to follow. The Wildlife Crime Academy, launched as part of the BalkanDetox LIFE project, is now sharing Spain’s expertise with other countries, particularly that of the Junta de Andalucía. The Academy is providing training and capacity-building programmes to competent professionals working in conservation, law enforcement and forensics from Europe and beyond.
Well done to the competent authorities for their swift action and appropriate response to a serious environmental crime. Through CSI, forensic science and judicial processes, we can achieve a real difference.
Source: En Castilla La Mancha
