{"id":41048,"date":"2025-11-13T17:27:43","date_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:27:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=41048"},"modified":"2025-11-13T17:27:43","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T15:27:43","slug":"boev-the-first-independent-bulgarian-bearded-vulture-in-decades","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/es\/blog\/boev-the-first-independent-bulgarian-bearded-vulture-in-decades\/","title":{"rendered":"Boev \u2013 The first independent Bulgarian Bearded Vulture in decades"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an absence of more than half a century, the skies above Bulgaria once again belong to the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus)<\/em><\/a>. Meet Boev, the first young Bearded Vulture now living freely and independently in the Bulgarian mountains \u2014 a milestone for vulture conservation in the Balkans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Bearded Vulture Boev flying – Screenshot from video by Green Balkans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new generation takes flight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Boev (BG1256) hatched on February 12, 2025 at Zoo Ostrava in the Czech Republic and was later transferred to Sliven, Bulgaria, as part of the species\u2019 long-awaited return to the country. On 17 May 2025, three male Bearded Vultures \u2014 Boev and LifeBG from Zoo Ostrava, and Balkan from the Green Balkans Captive Breeding Centre \u2014 were released at Sinite Kamani Nature Park near Sliven<\/a>, marking the first Bearded Vulture living in Bulgaria in more than 50 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Challenges and resilience<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The journey has not been without setbacks. Sadly, LifeBG died shortly after the release<\/a> due to a bacterial infection. Balkan, meanwhile, had to be brought back into care after losing feathers but has since recovered and continues to be monitored closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boev, however, quickly adapted to life in the wild. After his first flights in Sinite Kamani, he began exploring the wider landscape \u2014 making short trips to Kotel, Yablyanovo, and Elena, before always returning to his release site. On August 6, Boev made a remarkable 120 km journey to the Central Balkan National Park, where he has since spent much of his time among Griffon Vultures summering in the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A True Wild Bearded Vulture<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In another milestone observation, Boev was filmed feeding on a Balkan Chamois carcass \u2014 the first documented case of a reintroduced Bearded Vulture in Bulgaria feeding on wild animal remains. This exciting event confirmed that Boev is learning to survive independently and that natural food resources are available within the species\u2019 historic range.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n