[15.07.07]

A pair of long-expected Bearded Vultures (Gypeatus barbatus) finally arrived in the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans on July 15th 2007. The two birds were hatched and raised in a Breeding Centre for Bearded vultures in Austria (EGS - Eulen und Greifvogel Schutz – Austria, http://www.egsoesterreich.org/index1.html). The Centre is a part of the international program for Bearded Vulture restoration in the Alps.

Bearded Vulture is the symbol of Bulgarian nature conservation, but unfortunately the species has disappeared as a nesting species since the 60-ies. At present there are only records of single wandering individuals on the Balkans. The team of Green Balkans has been discussing the breeding, restoration and conservation of the four vulture species in Europe with various experts from numerous international organizations for ten years so far.

In 2006 a commission comprising the leading experts on Bearded Vultures breeding and reintroduction decided to grant a pair of these birds, hatched in Austria to the Wildlife Rescue Centre of Green Balkans, as a part of the Balkan Vulture Action Plan. Last week a team of Green Balkans visited our colleagues in Austria for experience exchange and took part in the last release of young birds bred in captivity into the Alps for the current year. This year two young birds were set free in the Hohe Tauern National Park.

(Foto: Green Balkans)

The new inhabitants of our Centre are two-years-old and feel well at the moment. They are still mainly resting under the shades of their new home, due to the warm weather. Their aviary was designed especially for breeding of vulture species.
It is sized 10x11x4.5 m, while the design and plans were entirely copied from our colleagues in the Austrian Centre.

We would like to especially thank Dr. Hans Frey and his team for the granted trust. We would also like to thank our colleagues from the Black Vulture Conservation Foundation – Spain, the Frankfurt Zoological Society – Germany, LPO – France, Alex Llopis – Spain and all volunteers and employees of Green Balkans, who all made this happen.

(Fotos: Green Balkans)

We are hoping on success in the raising of the pair and we also hope they would successfully adapt to their new environment.

For more information contact:
Ivailo Klisurov – Manager of the Wildlife Centre
++359 42 622401; mobile ++359 886 57 00 52
http://www.greenbalkans.org/

(Green Balkans, Bulgaria)