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Meet the first chick of the Bearded Vulture captive breeding season 2024-2025 

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With great excitement, we welcome the first Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) chick of the 2024-2025 season! BG1254 hatched on 28 January 2025 at the Richard Faust Breeding Centre in Austria – one of the most important breeding centres within the Bearded Vulture EEP network. This centre has been a key contributor, producing the most eggs in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons and breaking the world record of most chicks last year. 

The hatching of BG1254 marks the beginning of a new generation of captive-bred Bearded Vultures. Every hatchling brings hope for the conservation of the species, reinforcing our ongoing efforts to restore wild populations. 

BG1254 – The first Bearded Vulture chick of the season 2024-2025 (c) Richard Faust Centre 

The story of BG1254   

Do you still remember Aararat and Ricarda? They are the parents of BG1254. What makes this chick special is that its father “Aararat” is a wild-caught bird from Tajikistan. As a wild founder, all his offspring, including BG1254, are genetically very valuable.  

First egg of the season by BG201 and BG576

The egg of BG1254 was laid at the Richard Faust Breeding Centre in Austria on 4 December 2024, and hatched after 55 days (the average incubation period is 54 days). 

After 14 days in the nest, the male “Aararat” was playing with the egg, taking it in his beak, and dropping it back into the nest. Luckily, it remained unharmed! To ensure the safety of the egg, it was decided to transfer it to controlled incubation conditions while the parent pair continued incubating an artificial egg to keep them engaged. 

The internal pip—when the chick breaks into the air chamber inside the egg—occurred on 25 January. On 26 January , the chick made its external pip, pecking at the eggshell. Finally, on 28 January 2025, the chick fully hatched, weighing 163 grams. 

BG1254 right after hatching (c) Richard Faust Centre

Behind the scenes: the journey to hatching 

The journey to hatching is a meticulous process. It begins with careful breeding programme management, including pair selection, monitoring, and providing optimal conditions for egg-laying and incubation. For the next few days, the team will provide around-the-clock care for the chick, feeding and monitoring its evolution. The team must then transfer the chick to an aviary with Bearded Vultures within seven days to avoid human imprinting. This transfer is crucial as the vultures will adopt and raise the chick, teaching it the necessary behaviours and instincts to thrive as a wild bird.  

The dedication of the teams at Richard Faust Center ensured the chicks safe arrival, and their expertise will continue to support the chick’s growth and survival. 

What’s next? 

In the coming weeks, BG1254 will be carefully monitored to ensure its well-being. If all goes well, in about 90 days, this chick may be selected for release into the wild or remain in the breeding programme to contribute to future generations. 

We look forward to see many more healthy chicks for this season and keep you updated as they grow. In about three months of age some of the chicks will be released into the wild, contributing to ongoing efforts to reintroduce and restock the species in various regions across Europe.  

Strengthening Bearded Vulture populations in the wild  

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.  

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