About three decades ago, poisoning, poaching and other deadly threats drove the Cinereous Vulture to extinction in Bulgaria. But there is new hope for the species in the country.

 

To prepare for the return of the Cinereous Vulture in Bulgaria, we first had to implement targeted and long-term conservation actions alongside our partners to mitigate threats, improve habitat conditions and reintroduce the Griffon Vulture. In 2018, we finally released the first Cinereous Vultures in Bulgaria and since then secured over 70 individuals within the Vultures Back to LIFE reintroduction project.

 

Just a few years after the initial releases, in 2021, the first reintroduced pair hatched and fledged a chick in the wild! The positive results continued in 2022 with the arrival of a second chick in the wild, and between 3-5 pairs formed.

 

We plan to transport more Cinereous Vultures from Spain in the coming months for their eventual release in Bulgaria next spring. The Spanish vultures will travel with a specialized animal transportation vehicle suited for their comfort and safety. They will cover over 4,000 km by land, passing through France, Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Romania before arriving at their new home. We urgently need to raise funds for their transportation.

 

 

Every little bit helps.

 

Do you want to learn more about the efforts that successfully restored the Cinereous Vulture to Bulgaria? Read our article detailing the hatching of the second chick in the wild.