{"id":40987,"date":"2025-11-03T16:46:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/?p=40987"},"modified":"2025-11-03T16:46:45","modified_gmt":"2025-11-03T14:46:45","slug":"cinereous-vultures-and-friendship-unlikely-bonds-in-life-aegypius-return","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/cinereous-vultures-and-friendship-unlikely-bonds-in-life-aegypius-return\/","title":{"rendered":"Cinereous vultures and friendship: unlikely bonds in LIFE Aegypius Return"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In Portugal, the LIFE Aegypius Return project has been tracking the movements of dozens of Cinereous vultures (<em>Aegypius monachus<\/em>) and identified behaviours that suggest unexpected social bonds between some individuals. These are singular stories that show how friendship can emerge where it is least expected.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"680\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Cinereous-Vultures-\u00a9-Bruno-Berthemy-1024x680.jpg\" alt=\"Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Bruno Berthemy\" class=\"wp-image-16888\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Cinereous-Vultures-\u00a9-Bruno-Berthemy-1024x680.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Cinereous-Vultures-\u00a9-Bruno-Berthemy-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Cinereous-Vultures-\u00a9-Bruno-Berthemy-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Cinereous-Vultures-\u00a9-Bruno-Berthemy.jpg 1340w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Bruno Berthemy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Friendship beyond humanity\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Friendship is not exclusive to humans. Other animals are also capable of forming strong and lasting bonds that go far beyond simple cooperation. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.annualreviews.org\/content\/journals\/10.1146\/annurev-psych-120710-100337\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Scientific research<\/a> shows that what we call \u201cfriendship\u201d \u2013 a voluntary and enduring relationship, often without immediate benefits \u2013 also exists in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.birdwatchingdaily.com\/beginners\/birding-faq\/which-birds-are-actually-friends-with-each-other\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">animal world<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Among humans, friendship is essential to health and well-being, strengthening cooperation, resilience in the face of difficulties and even survival itself. And, as in us, other social species also display <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/griffon-vulture-aging-habits-conservation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">selective<\/a> e <a href=\"https:\/\/brill.com\/view\/journals\/beh\/147\/11\/article-p1379_1.xml\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">unconditional<\/a> bonds \u2013 that is, connections formed without any perceptible practical advantage.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Discover some examples of special relationships documented in bird species:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1007\/s00265-020-2807-4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Egyptian vultures<\/a> (<em>Neophron percnopterus<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pnas.org\/doi\/10.1073\/pnas.2407298121\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Griffon Vultures<\/a> (<em>Gyps fulvus<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/00063657.2015.1089836\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Siskins<\/a> (<em>Carduelis spinus<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cell.com\/current-biology\/fulltext\/S0960-9822(18)30845-5?_returnURL=https%3A%2F%2Flinkinghub.elsevier.com%2Fretrieve%2Fpii%2FS0960982218308455%3Fshowall%3Dtrue\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Bee-eaters<\/a> (<em>Merops apiaster<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/d41586-025-01374-8\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Superb satrlings<\/a> (<em>Lamprotornis superbus<\/em>)\u202f\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/psycnet.apa.org\/buy\/2012-28745-001\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">European starlings<\/a> (<em>Sturnus vulgaris<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.diva-portal.org\/smash\/record.jsf?pid=diva2%3A419279&amp;dswid=-7761\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Siberian jays<\/a> (<em>Perisoreus infaustus<\/em>)\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What do vultures tell us?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefits of cooperation among vultures are well documented. Griffon Vultures act as sentinels in detecting carcasses, benefitting the whole group. Bearded Vultures, in turn, sometimes form reproductive units of three or four individuals, which brings advantages in sharing parental care. These behaviours demonstrate a level of social complexity that implies familiarity and trust between individuals, similar to friendship. Yet unconditional friendship \u2013 a lasting bond that goes beyond survival needs \u2013 is much harder to identify and prove.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Portugal, some Cinereous Vultures monitored via GPS transmitters as part of the <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/life-aegypius-return\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">projeto LIFE Aegypius Return<\/a> project have shown unusually close behaviour, suggesting affinities stronger than mere territorial coexistence. We cannot prove the unconditional nature of these bonds, but we can certainly observe a striking closeness.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Almeir\u00e3o <\/em>e <em>Ar\u00e7\u00e3<\/em>: the inseparables\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The two met in November 2023 at CERAS (the Centre for the Study and Recovery of Wild Animals, run by Quercus in Castelo Branco).&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Ar\u00e7\u00e3<\/em> was rescued in \u00c9vora when she was just over a year old and in a weakened state. After being treated at CARAS (the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre managed by the League for the Protection of Nature \u2013 LPN) in the same city, she was transferred to Castelo Branco, where <em>Almeir\u00e3o<\/em>, a male, was already recovering. Also born in 2022, he had been rescued that September in Belmonte and rehabilitated at CERAS.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>CERAS was the common home of these young vultures until May 2024, when they were transferred to the <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/four-cinereous-vultures-inaugurate-pioneering-conservation-programme-in-portugal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">acclimatisation<\/a> station in Douro International. In November that year, <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/cinereous-vultures-soft-released-to-freedom-in-douro-international-portugal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">they were (soft) released<\/a> and have been inseparable ever since.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>GPS data and field observations show that they continue to roam the Douro valley, making regular visits to Spain, almost always side by side. They fly, feed and perch in synchrony, as if one mirrored the other.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Very recently, they have begun to exhibit behaviours that may indicate the beginning of nest-building activity. They are still young, but perhaps their bond goes beyond friendship\u2026&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"401\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025-1024x401.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40988\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025-1024x401.png 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025-300x117.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025-768x301.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025-18x7.png 18w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map1_27Abril2025.png 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"519\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025-1024x519.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40989\" style=\"width:1043px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025-1024x519.png 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025-300x152.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025-768x389.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025-18x9.png 18w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map2_05Junho2025.png 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:38px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"524\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025-1024x524.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-40990\" style=\"width:1024px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025-1024x524.png 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025-300x153.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025-768x393.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025-18x9.png 18w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map3_20Julho2025.png 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Synchronous movements of Cinereous Vultures <em>Almeir\u00e3o <\/em>(orange) and <em>Ar\u00e7\u00e3 <\/em>(yellow) on 27\/04\/2025, 05\/06\/2025 and 20\/07\/2025.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:22px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><em>Farrobo and Vidigueira\u00a0<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Not all friendships have <em>romantic <\/em>motivations. <em>Farrobo <\/em>e <em>Vidigueira <\/em>\u2013 respectively a male and a female \u2013 are the only surviving chicks from this year&#8217;s breeding season in the <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/strategic-cinereous-vulture-colony-in-southern-portugal-under-serious-threat\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">recently established<\/a> Vidigueira\/Portel colony.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their GPS data show that, since they began to fly, they have remained close to one another and to the colony. And, like the Douro pair, they sometimes fly, perch and feed in complete synchrony.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will be several years before they reach sexual maturity, so what unites them for now seems to be simple friendship \u2013 perhaps a form of learning and mutual safety as they explore the world together.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"878\" height=\"787\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map4.png\" alt=\"Movements of Cinereous Vultures Farrobo (yellow) and Vidigueira (orange); synchronised movements highlighted in blue. \" class=\"wp-image-40991\" style=\"width:1043px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map4.png 878w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map4-300x269.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map4-768x688.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/Map4-13x12.png 13w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 878px) 100vw, 878px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Movements of Cinereous Vultures Farrobo (yellow) and Vidigueira (orange); synchronised movements highlighted in blue. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Beyond instinct\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientific caution prevents researchers from attributing <em>feelings <\/em>to animal behaviour. However, the observed patterns are undeniable.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether these bonds are the result of shared experiences in captivity, survival instinct, a social tendency, or a closer affinity, they reveal that vultures have <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/vultures-have-personality-too-in-life-and-death\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">personality<\/a> and an unexpected side to a species generally (and unfairly) <a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/vultures-pop-culture-icons-or-the-curse-of-bad-pr\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">connoted<\/a> with negative characteristics.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These stories also bring a new perspective to the importance of technology and remote monitoring, which now allows to uncover social dimensions previously overlooked in conservation studies.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"928\" height=\"614\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cinereous-vulture-pair-france-928x614-1.png\" alt=\"Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Bruno Berthemy\" class=\"wp-image-4332\" style=\"width:1043px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cinereous-vulture-pair-france-928x614-1.png 928w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cinereous-vulture-pair-france-928x614-1-300x198.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/Cinereous-vulture-pair-france-928x614-1-768x508.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 928px) 100vw, 928px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cinereous Vultures \u00a9 Bruno Berthemy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About LIFE Aegypius Return<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"205\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-1024x205.png\" alt=\"LAR LIFE Aegypius Return LIFE Natura 2000 logo\" class=\"wp-image-27531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-1024x205.png 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-300x60.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-768x154.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-1536x307.png 1536w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-2048x410.png 2048w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/LAR-LIFE-Aegypius-Return-LIFE-Natura-2000-logo-18x4.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>O projeto LIFE Aegypius Return \u00e9 cofinanciado pelo&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/cinea.ec.europa.eu\/programmes\/life_en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">programa LIFE da Uni\u00e3o Europeia.<\/a>O seu sucesso depende do envolvimento de todos os stakeholders relevantes, e da colabora\u00e7\u00e3o dos parceiros: a&nbsp;<em>stakeholders<\/em>, and the collaboration of the partners: the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF)<\/a>benefici\u00e1rio coordenador, e os parceiros locais&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.palombar.pt\/pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Palombar \u2013 Conserva\u00e7\u00e3o da Natureza e do Patrim\u00f3nio Rural<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.herdadedacontenda.pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Herdade da Contenda<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.spea.pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sociedade Portuguesa para o Estudo das Aves<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lpn.pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Liga para a Protec\u00e7\u00e3o da Natureza<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/atnatureza\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Transum\u00e2ncia e Natureza<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/fnyh.org\/en\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fundaci\u00f3n Naturaleza y Hombre<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.gnr.pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Guarda Nacional Republicana<\/a>&nbsp;e&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/anpc.pt\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Nacional de Propriet\u00e1rios Rurais Gest\u00e3o Cineg\u00e9tica e Biodiversidade<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"241\" src=\"http:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners-1024x241.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-39381\" srcset=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners-1024x241.png 1024w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners-300x70.png 300w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners-768x180.png 768w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners-18x4.png 18w, https:\/\/4vultures.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/logos-partners.png 1098w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Portugal, the LIFE Aegypius Return project has been tracking the movements of dozens of Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) and identified behaviours that suggest unexpected social bonds between some individuals. These are singular stories that show how friendship can emerge where it is least expected.&nbsp; Friendship beyond humanity\u00a0 Friendship is not exclusive to humans. Other [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16888,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[407,14,167],"class_list":["post-40987","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-2025-11","tag-cinereousvulture","tag-lifeaegypiusreturn"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Cinereous vultures and friendship: unlikely bonds in LIFE Aegypius Return - Vulture Conservation Foundation<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/4vultures.org\/pt\/blog\/cinereous-vultures-and-friendship-unlikely-bonds-in-life-aegypius-return\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"pt_PT\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cinereous vultures and friendship: unlikely bonds in LIFE Aegypius Return - Vulture Conservation Foundation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In Portugal, the LIFE Aegypius Return project has been tracking the movements of dozens of Cinereous vultures (Aegypius monachus) and identified behaviours that suggest unexpected social bonds between some individuals. These are singular stories that show how friendship can emerge where it is least expected.&nbsp; Friendship beyond humanity\u00a0 Friendship is not exclusive to humans. 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