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  • Young French conservationists visit Vallcalent Bearded Vulture Breeding Centre 

Young French conservationists visit Vallcalent Bearded Vulture Breeding Centre 

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On 16 August 2024, a group of passionate young conservationists from the Graines d’Éleveurs association in Vercors, France, visited the Vallcalent Bearded Vulture Specialised Breeding Centre in Lleida, Spain. This visit was part of the LIFE GypAct project,an initiative dedicated to the protection and reintroduction of the endangered Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in Southern France. Ten visitors, most of whom were children and teenagers, eagerly sought to learn more about the fascinating birds they have been working to protect. 

Graines d’Éleveurs visiting Vallcalent Breeding Centre in August 2024 

Graines d’Éleveurs: Protecting Biodiversity in Vercors 

Graines d’Éleveurs association brings together people who share a passion for agricultural professions and a strong commitment to preserving local biodiversity in Vercors, France. Their efforts have focused on the Bearded Vulture, a species that has faced significant challenges in the wild, as well as the conservation of the Villard-de-Lans cow, a rare local breed from Vercors. The association’s members, many of whom come from farming families, have actively participated in various conservation activities, including fundraising to support the release of Bearded Vultures back into their natural habitat. 

Learning from the experts at Vallcalent 

During their visit to Vallcalent, the group toured the Bearded Vulture Specialised Breeding Unit, where they learned about the centre’s crucial role in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) for the Bearded Vulture. The Vallcalent facility is managed by the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) under an agreement with the Generalitat de Catalunya and specialises in artificial incubation and technical support for breeding pairs facing reproductive challenges. The centre currently houses 26 birds, including several pairs that have struggled to reproduce at other breeding centres. 

The young visitors were captivated by the innovative methods used at Vallcalent to support the birds. The visitors also had the opportunity to meet the 26 birds, including Kazajo, a renowned imprinted Bearded Vulture who has become an experienced foster father, playing a unique role in the rearing of chicks at the centre. 

Inspiring future conservation efforts 

The experience provided the young conservationists with valuable insights into the intricate work required to support endangered species. We hope that seeing first-hand how the Vallcalent staff care for these endangered birds inspires the group and reinforces their commitment to conservation efforts. The staff at Vallcalent were impressed by the motivation and enthusiasm of these young conservationists, noting the genuine dedication and interest they showed throughout the visit. 

Their visit to Vallcalent served not only as an educational opportunity but also as a testament to the power of youth-driven conservation. By involving themselves in projects like the LIFE GypAct, these young members of Graines d’Éleveurs continue to contribute meaningfully to the ongoing efforts to ensure the survival of the Bearded Vulture. 

LIFE Gyp’Act is a 13M€ project, co-funded by the EU’s LIFE programme, that will run until 30 November 2028. Project partners are LPO – Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux as coordinator beneficiary, and the Vulture Conservation Foundation, Association Vautours en Baronnies, LPO Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, LPO Occitanie, Sorbonne Université, ENEDIS, Centre National d’Informations Toxicologiques Vétérinaires, Parc National des Cévennes and Parc Naturel Régional du Vercors as associated beneficiaries.   

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