{"id":13120,"date":"2020-02-14T13:16:00","date_gmt":"2020-02-14T11:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=13120"},"modified":"2021-05-18T13:35:10","modified_gmt":"2021-05-18T10:35:10","slug":"mass-poisoning-causes-a-heavy-blow-to-the-largest-colony-of-griffon-vultures-in-mainland-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/mass-poisoning-causes-a-heavy-blow-to-the-largest-colony-of-griffon-vultures-in-mainland-greece\/","title":{"rendered":"Mass poisoning causes a heavy blow to the largest colony of Griffon Vultures in mainland Greece"},"content":{"rendered":"
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We are devastated to report that eleven Griffon Vultures fell victim to poisoning in the area of Klisoura Gorge in Greece. Unfortunately, nine vultures died from the incident, and two are alive but currently in recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eleven vulture victims so far<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A total of eleven Griffon Vultures, a protected and critically endangered species in Greece, have been found poisoned in Klisoura Canyon in the Messolonghi-Etoliko Lagoon National Park a few days ago. This is the most severe poisoning case recorded in the country, after the one in the Strait of Nestos in 2012, and the largest confirmed case for Griffon Vultures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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La\u00a0Messolonghi Management Body<\/a>\u00a0y\u00a0HOS\/BirdLife Greece<\/a>\u00a0discovered the carcasses of the nine Griffon Vulture. Executives from the Management Body of the Hunting Association of Messolonghi recovered the other two Griffon Vultures, which are currently alive and are being treated at\u00a0ANIMA<\/a>, gradually showing signs of recovery from poisoning. The dead vultures will be sent to the Athens Veterinary Foundations Centre for toxicological analysis, and to help avoid further poisoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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(c) ANIMA<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Concerns about the fate of the rest of the vultures in the area are high and the danger of the local vulture population collapsing remains. The Griffon Vulture colony of Klisoura and Akarnania, are the only ones left in Western Greece and the largest remaining in the mainland.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This incident follows a serious incident two years ago in the same area, with a total of seven vultures poisoned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Messolonghi Forestry Office, in collaboration with the Messolonghi-Akarnanian Lagoon Management Body, will undertake all legal procedures to search for, identify and exemplify the perpetrator(s).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Riga<\/a>, the Cinereous Vulture released with Vultures Back To LIFE<\/a> in Bulgaria, is also in the nearby area. The project team is closely following her movements with GPS tracking to help ensure her safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update 17\/02\/2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The death toll increased from nine to eleven Griffon Vultures. It is possible that more vultures have been affected but not discovered. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is this area the largest Griffon Vulture colony in mainland Greece but it is also an important wintering area for vultures. One of the visitors includes our Cinereous Vulture Riga, wintering there for the second year in a row. Vultures Back To LIFE released Riga in Bulgaria as part of the project’s efforts to reintroduce the species in the country. Just before the poisoning incident, Riga thankfully moved to the northernmost roosting site of the area near Embesos (60 km from Messolonghi) and returned to Messolonghi while the case was still unresolved on 13 February. The management body of the Messolonghi-Akarnanika area with the support of the Forestry Ministry initiated emergency action this past Friday to Sunday to protect Riga.  The Vultures Back To LIFE staff was in constant contact with them and informing them of Riga’s movements with the transmitter every 30 minutes to ensure that the vulture would not get poisoned and to help the local team on the ground to discover the poison bait and react. In the end, Riga did not feed on the poison bait, nor the other Griffon Vultures with GPS transmitters that are now nesting in Akarnanika (50 km from Messolonghi). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The area is important for vultures in the Balkans and the Vultures Back to LIFE team aims to tag at least five more vultures with GPS transmitters, three provided by us at the VCF. GPS tracking will monitor the movements of the species, helping avoid further mass losses and addressing the prosecution towards poisoners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Update 08\/03\/2020<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following the rehabilitation of the two Griffon Vultures at\u00a0ANIMA, the vultures were nursed back to health and released back to the wild on 8 March! Ahead of their release, the vultures were equipped with GPS transmitters with the help of the\u00a0Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna<\/a>\u00a0to monitor their movements and help tackle threats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Video<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Illegal Wildlife Poisoning in Greece<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The use of poison baits was banned in 1993 but it is still a widespread practice damaging wildlife, nature and public health. In less than three decades, populations of vultures, mainly in mainland Greece, have collapsed due to the illicit use of poison baits, while local extinctions of these species have occurred. In Greece, their population has declined dramatically, and all species of vultures in the country are in danger of extinction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Urgent call to the locals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you find dead birds or other animals in the area, please contact the following authorities immediately:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The Mesolongi-Akarnanian Lagoon Management Body at 26320 55094<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The Messolonghi Forestry Office at 26310 28878<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– The Hellenic Ornithological Society at 210 8228704 & 210 8227937 (daily 9am to 5pm) and 6947 610763 (24\/7)<\/p>\n\n\n\n