Earlier this week, Perdas, a member of the Griffon Vultures colony established between Bosa and Alghero in Sardinia, had a close call. He was lightly hit by a car. The well-prepared local emergency network rescued him swiftly and he is now safe and recovering.
In the hot Sardinian summer afternoon, Perdas, a young Griffon Vulture (Gyps fulvus)released in Sardinia last October, took a momentary rest on a guardrail of the SS131 highway. He took off just as a car was overtaking another. A near miss. The vehicle grazed him—but it could have been fatal.
A driver immediately called the Forestry and Environmental Protection Corps and shielded the bird from heat and the traffic. Once arrived on the scene, the Forestry Corps, with the support of ANAS and State Police, carefully captured Pedas and transferred him the FORESTAS Wildlife Rescue Centre in Bonassai.
Veterinarians report that Perdas is in stable condition. No fractures, responsive to treatment, and recovering from shock and heat stress. He remains under observation, but the team is optimistic.
Sardinia’s vultures friends network
This rescue was possible thanks to two main factors: the exceptional cooperation between institutions, and the great education work done by the LIFE Safe for Vultures project and its predecessor LIFE Under the Griffon Wings.
The two projects built a wide and very active volunteers network to support the expanding Griffon Vulture population in Sardinia. They also educated the local community on what to do – and who to call – in case of a wildlife emergency. Thanks to these projects excellent work, vultures are very well perceived in most of the island. The local communities are invested in their stories and support the authorities in their conservation work.
Pardas story is a living example of how conservation is a shared responsibility, and how communication and education empower people to act decisively and compassionately when wildlife is in need. Every one of us can make the difference with the smallest action.
Marking and monitoring are essential tools in conservation
During his misadventure, Perdas was immediately identified by the rescue team thanks to his leg ring and the unique feather marking. He was also equipped with a satellite transmitter that could have become crucial if the bird moved away from the collision site before the arrival of the rescue team.
Perdas received both the leg ring and the transmitters before being released from the Villasalto aviary in October 2024. The LIFE Safe for Vultures programme equips all vultures released with these tools. The team also bleaches wing feathers with a pattern unique for each vulture. This painless procedure helps identify the vulture in flight until it naturally moults them.
Thanks to all these tools, we know that Perdas crosses Sardinia along a diagonal path immediately after his release. He reached the coast between Bosa and Alghero and joined the local Griffon Vulture colony.
Each vulture released is an individual before being part of a conservation programme, and its life is invaluable. Our great gratitude goes to the driver who started the rescue operations and took care of Perdas until the Forestry Corps arrived. We also want to celebrate and thank the entire emergency network that took care of this young unlucky vulture, and the LIFE Safe for Vultures project for its amazing conservation effort.
LIFE Safe for Vultures is a project co-financed by the EU’s LIFE Programme, acting as the first step to the restoration of the vulture guild in Sardinia. The University of Sassari leads the project in collaboration with Agenzia Regionale Forestas, Sardegna Corpo Forestale, E-Distribuzione and the Vulture Conservation Foundation. LIFE Safe for Vultures builds on the work of the successful LIFE Under Griffon Wings, with the ultimate objective for Griffon Vultures to regain their historic ranges and distribution areas from the central-eastern part of Sardinia to the south and at the same time promote the long-term survival of the species on the island. The project team is working to expand the network of farm feeding stations, create several anti-poison dog units to tackle wildlife poisoning, establish an additional feeding station in the south of the island, restock the population by importing 40 additional Griffon Vultures and reduce the threat of collision and electrocution with energy infrastructures.
