{"id":14428,"date":"2020-09-04T13:40:00","date_gmt":"2020-09-04T10:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=14428"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:47:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:47:09","slug":"west-nile-virus-poses-a-threat-to-bearded-vultures-in-captivity-and-to-humans-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/west-nile-virus-poses-a-threat-to-bearded-vultures-in-captivity-and-to-humans-too\/","title":{"rendered":"West Nile Virus poses a threat to Bearded Vultures in captivity \u2013 and to humans too"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Captive Bearded Vulture in Guadalent\u00edn\/ illustrative (c) Junta de Andaluc\u00eda<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

We here at the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF) manage the Bearded Vulture Captive Breeding Network in Europe, part of EAZA’s<\/a> European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). This network is at the base of the important reintroduction projects for the species, starting with the Alps over 30 years ago, and expanding efforts to other regions including Andalusia, Grands Causses (Massif Central), Corsica (restocking) and Maestrazgo. Today, we collaborate with over 40 zoos and breeding centres, coordinating the breeding of Bearded Vultures for their eventual release to the wild. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Managing this network brings a lot of veterinary and animal husbandry challenges, and this year was no different. The COVID-19 pandemic affected us all \u2013 personally and professionally. Within the Bearded Vulture EEP, we had to cope with, and find solutions, for the restrictions of movements across Europe<\/a>. We did manage to transport chicks for reintroduction projects when the whole of Europe was confined<\/a> and released them in the wild. Now that we thought the worst had passed, a new viral problem appeared: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a growing threat to captive Bearded Vultures in Europe, especially when centres or zoos are located at low altitudes. Unfortunately, this year alone, the network lost another Bearded Vulture due to this virus. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Nile Virus and the Bearded Vulture EEP<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

West Nile Virus does occur in Europe and may affect wild and captive birds. The vectors of this virus are mosquitos, and this disease coincides with the high peak of mosquito presence during the hot summer months. So, if any bird dies in this period of the year, a West Nile Virus analysis should be done. Furthermore, a few years ago, blood samples were compiled from the entire Bearded Vulture stock, and some showed antibodies against West Nile, confirming that the species can become immunized against this virus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most of the time, when they catch the virus, Bearded Vultures don’t exhibit strong symptoms or none at all, but eventually do get weak. As a consequence, they get other infections like aspergillosis that ultimately kills them. This threat has been growing in recent years as we can see from recent cases. <\/p>\n\n\n\n