{"id":40747,"date":"2025-09-18T17:11:30","date_gmt":"2025-09-18T14:11:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=40747"},"modified":"2025-09-22T16:06:28","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T13:06:28","slug":"donations-ensure-the-return-of-cinereous-vultures-to-the-acclimatisation-station-in-douro-internacional-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/donations-ensure-the-return-of-cinereous-vultures-to-the-acclimatisation-station-in-douro-internacional-portugal\/","title":{"rendered":"Donations ensure the return of Cinereous Vultures to the acclimatisation station in Douro Internacional, Portugal\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

Keep supporting to protect this species from extinction and help us reach the campaign goal!<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six Cinereous Vultures (Aegypius monachus<\/em>) that were at the acclimatisation station in the Douro Internacional Nature Park (PNDI) when the large wildfire<\/a> broke out on 15 August in this protected area have already returned to the facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

La crowdfunding campaign<\/a> launched by Palombar<\/a>, within the framework of the LIFE Aegypius Return<\/a> project, to support the recovery of the Douro Internacional Cinereous Vulture colony \u2013 the most isolated and fragile in the country \u2013 has been fundamental in resuming conservation efforts.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support here<\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone\u2019s support is essential to reach the target of \u20ac30,000, which will cover all needs and allow the fight for the species\u2019 survival to continue. So far, about 35% (\u20ac10,629) of the necessary amount has been raised to address the damage caused by the fire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Cinereous Vultures back in the acclimatisation station \u00a9 Palombar<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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What was achieved thanks to everyone\u2019s support? <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to the solidarity of all those who contributed, it was possible to return to the acclimatisation station (located in Fornos, Mogadouro) the six Cinereous Vultures that had been there when the fire broke out. To protect them, the birds had been removed<\/a> by Palombar, in coordination with the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF), and transferred to CIARA \u2013 Environmental Interpretation and Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, in Felgar (Torre de Moncorvo). At this centre, they received all necessary care until it was safe for them to return, which happened on 10 September. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Veterinary
Veterinary checkup of the Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Palombar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Veterinary
Veterinary checkup of the Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Palombar 2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Before being transported back, the vultures underwent a health check carried out by veterinarians from the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre of the Veterinary Hospital of the University of Tr\u00e1s-os-Montes and Alto Douro (CRAS HV-UTAD<\/a>). On that day, ICNF rangers were also present. The six Cinereous Vultures were fitted with GPS-GSM transmitters by a team from the Instituto Mixto de Investigaci\u00f3n en Biodiversidad (IMIB \u2013 University of Oviedo-CSIC-Principality of Asturias, Spain), which collaborates with the LIFE Aegypius Return project. The information provided by these devices is vital to ensure effective monitoring<\/a> and enable quick interventions in risky situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The
The team involved in the care, checkup, tagging and transport of the Cinereous Vultures back to the acclimatization station \u00a9 Palombar
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The team involved in the care, checkup, tagging and transport of the Cinereous Vultures back to the acclimatization station \u00a9 Palombar
<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Transfer
Transfer of the Cinereous Vultures back to the acclimatization station \u00a9 Palombar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The funds raised through the campaign made it possible to purchase equipment and carry out the necessary work to secure the return of the vultures to the station. These actions included: assessing the impact of the fire on the Douro Internacional colony; preparing the acclimatisation facility to receive the birds again; and purchasing surveillance cameras to ensure continuous real-time monitoring. Many of the project\u2019s previously acquired devices had been destroyed during the wildfire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back at the station, the six Cinereous Vultures showed clear signs of familiarity, displaying behaviours of recognition and well-being. The landscape is still marked black by the fire, but hope rises again with the return of these giants of the sky to their natural habitat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"The
The Cinereous Vultures back in the acclimatization station \u00a9 Palombar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"The
The Cinereous Vultures back in the acclimatization station \u00a9 Palombar <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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The campaign has also funded monitoring, feeding reinforcement and an emergency plan\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to returning the six Cinereous Vultures to the acclimatisation station, donations have already supported several essential actions, including: <\/p>\n\n\n\n