{"id":15435,"date":"2021-03-23T12:57:00","date_gmt":"2021-03-23T10:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=15435"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:47:03","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:47:03","slug":"cinereous-vultures-are-demonstrating-breeding-behaviour-in-bulgaria-for-the-first-time-since-their-extinction-nearly-30-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/cinereous-vultures-are-demonstrating-breeding-behaviour-in-bulgaria-for-the-first-time-since-their-extinction-nearly-30-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinereous Vultures are demonstrating breeding behaviour in Bulgaria for the first time since their extinction nearly 30 years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Balkan and VCF Know-How \u2014 the first formed Cinereous Vulture pair in Bulgaria \u00a9 Green Balkans<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Until the early 20th century, the Cinereous Vulture<\/a> was breeding in Bulgaria, but the species disappeared from the country due to habitat loss, wildlife poisoning, food shortage, and illegal persecution. In fact, the population of the species disappeared from the entire Balkan Peninsula, except for one small Cinereous Vulture colony remaining in Dadia Forest, north-eastern Greece. Yet, there is hope. Twenty Eight years after the last known nesting of Cinereous Vultures in Bulgaria, the Vultures Back to LIFE<\/a> project confirms the formation of three pairs in the Balkan Mountains! This milestone did not happen overnight. It required years of diligence and dedication by both local and international conservationists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Large vulture restoration in Bulgaria<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Local conservationists from the\u00a0Green Balkans<\/a>, the\u00a0Fund for Wild Flora and Fauna<\/a>\u00a0(FWFF) and the Birds of Prey Protection Society have been striving to restore large vulture species in Bulgaria for decades now, together with the support of international organizations.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Reintroduced Cinereous Vulture with Griffon Vultures in Bulgaria \u00a9 Hristo Peshev\/FWFF<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The first step was reintroducing the Griffon Vulture in the Kresna Gorge and Stara Planina mountain range in Bulgaria, which was achieved after the release of over 350 Griffon Vultures there, donated by Spain, France and more than 19 zoos in seven countries. To achieve the second step, which is the return of the Cinereous Vulture as a nesting species, the Vultures Back to LIFE project started in 2015. Fast-forward 6 years, and already 59 Cinereous Vultures coming from wildlife rehabilitation centres in Spain reached Bulgaria thanks to the joint efforts of Junta de Extremadura<\/a>, AMUS<\/a> and the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)<\/a>. And in early 2021, the project team observed the first signs of breeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cinereous Vulture pairs nest building<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result of all these targeted conservation actions, a total of three Cinereous Vulture pairs\u2014 two in the Eastern Stara Planina (Kotel) and one in Vratsa Balkans, have established themselves and are showing the first signs of breeding behaviour, building nests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n