As 2024 draws to a close, we take a moment to celebrate this year of progress and impact. Across Europe and beyond, we have been at the forefront of protecting and monitoring vulture populations, advocating for wildlife crime prevention, and fostering collaboration to ensure a brighter future for these essential species. Here are the highlights of what we accomplished together this year.
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Driving policy and international collaboration
2024 was a year of significant contributions to policy and advocacy for vulture conservation. We played a pivotal role in the Mid-Term Implementation Review of the Multi-Species Action Plan to Conserve African-Eurasian Vultures, under the Convention for Migratory Species. This essential work lays the groundwork for coordinated global efforts to protect vultures.
Together with the LIFE SUPport project we hosted an international workshop in Croatia, focusing on the sustainability of food supply for vultures and sanitary regulations. This event furthered the critical dialogue on ensuring vultures have access to safe food sources while addressing challenges in regulatory frameworks.
Expanding wildlife crime prevention efforts
Through partnerships with the Life with Vultures and Balkan Detox LIFE projects, we continued advocating for better wildlife crimes investigation with an international conference on wildlife crime prevention. Close to the end of the year we launched the new project WildLIFECrimeAcademy, which will expand training programs to 10 additional countries.
We intensified our effort to prevent wildlife crimes, particularly in the Balkans. Dozens of training sessions were held for professionals such as police officers, veterinarians, and toxicologists. The Bulgarian Ministry of Environment spearheaded initiatives to train newly established police units on wildlife crime investigation, showcasing the region’s growing capacity to address these critical issues.
Raising awareness and celebrating conservation
For the first time this year, we led the organisation of the International Vulture Awareness Day. The celebration saw 119 events across 39 countries, engaging communities in the mission to protect vultures. Thousands of people were involved in person and online in this inspiring initiative to celebrate the beauty and the importance of vulture species worldwide. We also hosted a guided tour of the Guadalentìn Bearded Vulture captive breeding centre in presence and online.
We produced several videos and animations within LIFE with Vultures and LIFE Aegypius Return projects. In this way we aim to reach a wider public and contribute to sharing knowledge about the ecological role of vultures, their local and global impact and some of the most important threats they face.
Remarkable progress for the European Vulture Species
Griffon Vultures
The Griffon Vultures population in Sardinia sees a constant growth. We contributed to the restocking project in South Sardinia together with the LIFE Safe for Vultures project. Together we released of 43 individuals in two separate transports, and a third group is in the acclimatisation aviary in Villasalto, ready to be released next spring. This success would not have been possible without all the partners and organisations that donated the birds to the cause.
In Croatia, we’ve registered a significant increase in the breeding population in Kvarner islands,rising from 130 to 150 breeding pairs—a testament to the work of the LIFE SUPport project efforts.
Bearded Vultures
2023-2024 was the best season ever for Bearded Vulture captive breeding EEP, with 44 chicks fledged and 24 released into the wild. This included a new reintroduction site in Sierra Nevada, Andalusia, Spain. Wild populations also thrived, with the Alps reaching a record 98 breeding pairs producing 61 fledglings, and Andalusia seeing 9 pairs producing 4 fledglings. Corsica’s endangered population doubled from 2 to 4 breeding pairs.
Conservation plans for the species received a boost with the development of Species Action Plans for France and Iberia.
We focused on national and international conservation efforts, hosting the International Bearded Vulture Meeting and co-hosting the LIFE GypRescue Seminar in Corsica. Over 140 participants gathered to share their knowledge and expertise on the species and contribute to its conservation strategy.
Lastly, a new release site in Bulgaria’s Balkan Mountains was identified, marking the beginning of species reintroduction efforts in the region.
Cinereous Vultures
Portuguese Cinereous Vultures population showed a threefold increase, now standing at 110 pairs across 5 colonies. The LIFE Aegypius Return project is constantly working to monitor them and endure the best conditions for them to thrive.
We released 7 individuals in Bulgaria’s Kresna Gorge with the Bearded Vulture LIFE project. The last monitoring of the local population records 15-17 pairs and 5 fledglings during the breeding season.
2024 has also seen the kick-off of the new LIFE Rhodopes Vultures project. It aims to restore the Cinereous Vulture population and trophic chain in the Bulgarian-Greek cross-border region.
Rüppell’s Vulture
This critically endangered species is slowly expanding its range from Africa to Europe. To deepen our knowledge of this rare species, we contributed to tagging two individuals in Morocco.
Looking ahead to 2025
2024 has been a year of collaboration, advocacy, and success. None of this would have been possible without the dedicated support of our partners, donors, and the passionate individuals who believe in the vital role vultures play in maintaining healthy ecosystems. As we step into 2025, we’re ready to build on these successes and tackle old and new challenges to secure a future where vultures thrive.
Together, let’s continue making a difference—for vultures, for nature, and for generations to come.
