{"id":17212,"date":"2021-06-15T14:54:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T11:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=17212"},"modified":"2025-05-05T15:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T12:47:01","slug":"livestock-breeders-and-conservationists-increase-safe-food-sources-for-three-vulture-species-in-the-meteora-of-the-north","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/livestock-breeders-and-conservationists-increase-safe-food-sources-for-three-vulture-species-in-the-meteora-of-the-north\/","title":{"rendered":"Livestock breeders and conservationists increase safe food sources for three vulture species in the Meteora of the North"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In the Kompsatos River Valley, the Thracian Meteora dominate the landscape from every viewpoint. Above the town of Iasmos, in the Rodopi prefecture, the Kompsatos Valley spreads up to the Greek-Bulgarian borders. The only activities in the Valley that persist are livestock farming and silviculture. Most residents are occupied with free grazing of livestock near the flatland settlements during the winter and around their mountain villages in the summer. Only a handful of people reside up to these ruined villages. Yet, the few remaining teamed up with conservationists to create a win-win relationship that benefits vultures and themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A protected area important for vultures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This area is integrated into the European network of protected areas Natura 2000. It hosts three of the four European vulture species\u2013 the Griffon Vulture, the Cinereous Vulture and the Egyptian Vulture. These birds use the border region of Rodopi to forage. The reason they still find shelter here is the preservation of the traditional free-grazing livestock way of life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Win-win relationship between livestock breeders and vultures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the framework of the LIFE RE-Vultures project,\u00a0WWF Greece created in the Kompsatos Valley five feeding sites for the vultures<\/a>\u00a0where the livestock breeders can leave their dead animals. According to European Law, livestock breeders have to bury the animals, something very difficult for them because of the rocky ground. Another option would be for the animal by-products service to pick up the carcasses which is again very challenging as the area is remote and far away from the flatlands. With this initiative, the livestock breeders are operating within the boundaries of the law by leaving their dead animals in spots designated by the local services. The vultures also benefit since they can find a safe and accessible source of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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