It has been yet another difficult year for all of us. Yet, despite the challenges we faced, we remained as committed as ever and continued to work diligently and dedicatedly towards restoring Europe’s vulture populations. Together, thanks to our supporters, partners and our team, we achieved fantastic results for vultures in 2021. In this blog post, we share the highlights:
- First successful breeding in the wild of Cinereous Vulture in Bulgaria 28 years after the last nesting, following the reintroduction of 51 birds. Six pairs are now established.
- 15 Griffon Vultures were successfully transported from Spain to Cyprus for release in 2022, to restock the extremely endangered population (1-2 pairs, 20 individuals).
- VCF started to manage the Guadalentín captive breeding centre in Cazorla (Spain), the world’s largest. 10 Bearded Vulture chicks produced there in 2021, a new record.
- 26 Bearded Vultures produced in our captive-breeding network. 23 of those were released into the wild in 5 sites: 7 in Andalusia, 5 in Grands Causses, 6 in the Alps (including first-ever release in Germany), 3 in Maestrazgo and 2 in Corsica.
- Wildlife Crime Academy established and the first cohort of 33 enforcement agents, toxicologists and vets trained by Spanish experts (Junta de Andalucía).
- National anti-poisoning road maps developed and are pending approval in 6 countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Greece, North Macedonia and Serbia.
- Ecosystem services provided by Griffons Vultures in Cyprus mapped out: 43-61% reduction in both CO2 emissions and transport costs associated with carcass disposal service and €648,000/year in direct tourism revenues.
- The extensive vulture conservation work that VCF is doing has certainly contributed to the recent official downlisting of two vulture species in Europe: Bearded Vulture from Vulnerable to Near Threatened, and Egyptian Vulture from Endangered to Vulnerable. Conservation action works!
- The Bearded Vulture population in Europe continues to expand through reintroduction projects: 60+ pairs of wild Bearded Vultures in the Alps fledged 44 young, and 7 breeding pairs in Andalusia fledged 3 young.
- 4,5 million social media impressions – the importance of vultures widely disseminated.
Here’s to more vulture conservation success in 2022!
If you want to help vultures during this holidays season, here are three things you can do:
- Please donate to the VCF and help us continue our work protecting vultures
- Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated and for offering to help vultures when such need arises
- Spread the word on social media and pledge to discuss vultures and their importance to three other people this holiday season
Thank you for your support. The Vulture Conservation Foundation team hopes you are healthy and wishes you a very happy new year!
