In January, we shared both good and bad news about vultures outside of Europe. Unfortunately, at least 36 Critically Endangered Vultures lost their lives from a suspected mass poisoning incident in India. But it was not all bleak — ten poisoned vultures recovered and returned to the wild. In the Americas, a new study demonstrated how increased scientific knowledge has directly informed conservation actions for the Andean condor in South America while in Cuba, scientists discovered a new vulture species from fossils!

The young and wandering Bearded Vulture Pierro continues exploring unusual region! The vulture was found stranded last year at Indre-et-Loire, France, an unusual habitat for the species, and needed help, so he was rescued and rehabilitated. With no markings, we performed a genetic analysis with a blood sample and determined that he originates from the French Alps and is the son of the first wild-hatched Bearded Vulture in the Alps since the reintroduction project began 30 years ago. After he made a full recovery, he was released in the Alps at the Vercors Regional Nature Park in early July 2020. Ever since his release, he continued exploring more unusual regions for the species including Parc Naturel régional des Volcans d'Auvergne, the northern Apennines between Florence and Bologna in Italy and Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta. Where will Pierro travel to next? You can keep track of Pierro's movements by visiting our Bearded Vulture online maps. 

We here at the Vulture Conservation Foundation follow the movements of several vultures as part of different projects. You can track the movements of all the European vulture species we tagged within our different projects and regions by visiting our online public maps. 

Cinereous Vulture online maps
Egyptian Vulture online maps.
Griffon Vulture online maps