Filenews 4 December 2022 - by Dora Christodoulou
Although once vultures were a common sight in Cyprus, today they are on the brink of extinction with only 22 birds remaining on the island and in fact most of them are vultures recently imported from Spain to strengthen the Cypriot population. This ominous scene for one of the most impressive species of fauna of the island, was highlighted once again by the team of the project "Life with Vultures", which is co-funded by the European Union.
Indicative of the alarming course of the species is that while in the 50s the population numbered a few hundred with at least 15 colonies in various locations on the island, today only 9 vultures remain in Cyprus, a fact that has alarmed the scientific community of Cyprus, with a program for the protection of the species already underway to save the vulture, under the title "LIFE with Vultures". In fact, within the framework of this project, the griffon vulture population will be strengthened by the import of 30 vultures from Spain. The first Spanish vultures were released a few months ago, while a further 15 vultures will be transferred from Spain to Cyprus in the coming months.
Speaking to "F", the coordinator of the program Melpo Apostolidou from BirdLife Cyprus, emphasizes that the Griffon Vulture is the largest bird in our country with a length of about one metre and a wingspan of about 2.5 metres. Its plumage has a light brown colour, while the ends of its wing and tail are black. His head and long neck are covered only with white fluff in adults. This imposing bird nests in groups, forming colonies on steep and secluded cliffs. She lays in mid-January to early March a white orange-sized egg that is incubated by both sexes for about 54 days. The chicks, until they leave their nest after 115 days, are fed by both parents.
"The vulture feeds exclusively on dead animals," says Mrs. Apostolidou. "In order to locate his food, he relies on his strong vision or on the movements of corvids that also feed on carrion. Therefore, as a cadaver-eating animal, it plays an important role in the recycling of organic matter. Vultures are the 'cleaners of the countryside' and help in their own way so that the environment is kept healthy and clean."
The main reason the species has been driven to the brink of extinction is the use of poisoned baits, which has caused mass killings. Although illegal throughout Europe, the use of poisoned baits is a persistent and frequent problem in the Cypriot countryside. Poisoned baits are mostly used to control predators, protect hunting and harvesting areas, as well as a means of resolving conflicts between humans (e.g. to prevent hunting from certain areas). In reality, however, they offer no solution since poisoned baits are a ruthless killer not only for vultures but also for a wide range of other protected species, including other birds of prey (e.g. Bonelli's Eagle, Diplogerakos and Falcon) and other fauna species. The use of poisoned baits is a method of mass and non-selective killing, as it can cause mass killing of different species in a short period of time.
In addition, the Griffon Vulture faces other threats that undermine the recovery of its population.
- Changes in livestock farming, such as the reduction of free grazing and the introduction of strict legislation obliging livestock farmers to transport dead animals to appropriate treatment infrastructure, have resulted in a reduction in the available feed for the Griffon Vulture.
- Disturbance at breeding sites can affect reproductive success, foraging and the possible spread of vultures to new colonies. Many of the historical colonies of the species have been abandoned and are now unsuitable for reproduction due to human intervention.
Poisoned baits destroy the fauna
Lefkios Sergidis also points out that informative visits have already been made to schools in the areas located in the territory where the vulture operates, starting with the Primary School of Choletria. School visits are considered vital for the required change of mentality of Cypriot society that is needed to radically address the placement of poisons in the countryside, observes:
"The use of poisoned baits is documented to be the most serious threat to wildlife in the entire world. In Cyprus, the motives behind their use are mainly the protection of livestock from other predator animals, such as foxes and stray dogs. In other cases, poisoned baits are used for exterminating foxes, and also for deliberately poisoning hunting dogs in retaliation between hunters or hunter-breeders. It is noted that any animal found on the site can fall victim to poisoning if it consumes poison or another animal that has already consumed poison. In addition to wildlife, poisoned baits are also a deadly threat to working animals (such as herd guard dogs and hunting dogs) and pets, and ultimately to humans, since some of these substances when in contact with the skin or inhaled can have serious effects on human health."
Rescue operation with "Life with the Vultures"
The "Life with Vultures" project, launched in October 2019, works on many levels to address these threats, with the main aim of preventing its extinction by addressing the main threats to the species and strengthening the local population, stresses the project coordinator:
"During this four-year effort, from 2019 to 2023, BirdLife Cyprus (project coordinator), the Game and Fauna Service, Terra Cypria - the Cyprus Foundation for the Protection of the Environment and the international organization Vulture Conservation Foundation are joining forces to rescue the most endangered predator in Cyprus. The "LIFE with Vultures" project has a budget of €1,375,861 and is co-funded by the LIFE programme of the European Union.
The programme includes actions against the use of poisoned baits, actions to deal with collisions with overhead power lines, as well as actions to expand the network of feeders to provide complementary food to vultures." At the same time, the project team focuses on informing and raising awareness among the public and especially the rural world such as hunters and breeders.
"By addressing the vulture's main threats," he emphasizes, "the project aims to reduce its mortality from factors that cause it with particular emphasis on reducing the use of poisoned baits which is responsible for the reduction of 50% of the Griffon Vulture population in the last 7 years alone. For example, within the framework of the program, two poison bait detection teams operate under the Game and Fauna Service, which carry out patrols and respond to poisoning incidents to remove poisoned baits from the countryside. At the same time, the program is collaborating with the Cyprus Police to investigate such incidents that constitute a crime against wildlife."
Threat and electrical wires
Overhead electrical cables are one of the main mortality factors for birds around the world. Impacts with electrical cables can negatively affect the griffon vulture population.
Information and awareness-raising campaign
The Cyprus Environmental Protection Foundation Terra Cypria, which is one of the partners of the "Life with Vultures" project, has undertaken the important task of informing and raising awareness among local communities and the rural world. The director of Terra Cypria, Mr. Lefkios Sergides, notes that a key aspect of the project is the implementation of a coordinated and targeted information and awareness campaign, both in specific areas related to the vulture and nationwide, in order to spread, among other things, the message of the importance of the vulture for our island, but also for the damage caused by poisoned baits to the Cypriot nature.
"This targeted communication campaign is ongoing and includes meetings, presentations and events in local communities located in the vulture areas, which are key to the success of the project. Thus, local land users such as hunters and ranchers are among the key stakeholders of the program. The presentations and events focus on highlighting the importance of vultures, the services they provide to ecosystems, the threats they face, the importance of the Natura 2000 network and how local communities can contribute to this effort." Until today, events have taken place in villages of the districts of Limassol and Paphos with great success such as Anogyra, Agios Amvrosios, Pachna, Dora, Limnatis, Salamiou and Agios Ioannis.
