Filenews 2 March 2023
Another 14 vultures, which will boost the island's local population, have arrived by air from Spain today.
According to a joint announcement by BirdLife Cyprus, the Game and Fauna Service, Vulture Conservation Foundation and Terra Cypria, the introduction of vultures is part of the "Life with Vultures" project that aims to prevent the extinction of the fulvus Griffon Vulture from the island and at the same time to strengthen its population and preserve it in the long term.
The 14 vultures were transferred to a special acclimatization cage of the Game and Fauna Service in the Limassol district where they will remain for 5-6 months. As with the previous vultures released, transmitters will be placed on these birds to monitor their movements, as well as to intervene in time to rescue them in case a bird is in danger.
Regarding the first vultures released last September, their movement data, recorded through satellite transmitters, show that the birds have successfully integrated into the local population, use the feeders and regularly visit important sites within the known territory of the species. Unfortunately, there were also two casualties in the early days of liberation, which to some extent was expected to happen due to their young age.
The introduction of birds from other regions, to enhance and maintain endangered species, is an accepted and widespread practice around the world. Due to the extremely small number of Griffon Vultures that Cyprus now has, the slow reproduction rate of the species and the frequent vole poisonings, the Griffon Vulture population in Cyprus cannot recover without human intervention. In fact, it is predicted that the Cypriot population will disappear within the next 15 years, if targeted conservation actions are not implemented, such as addressing the use of poisoned baits, which is the most serious threat to the species, and enhancing the population by importing birds from another country.
The vultures were imported from Spain, as the country is home to 90-95% of Europe's vultures, with the Griffon Vulture population numbering 30,000 pairs. The birds selected for transport to Cyprus were young people who hatched in Spain and who ended up in the AMUS wildlife hospital due to some injury or weakness. After receiving care and fully recovering, they were selected for the program to support the population of Cyprus.
The team of the project "Life with Vultures" thanks everyone who contributed to the introduction of birds:
• The Government of Spain and the Local Government of Extremadura for the donation of birds
• The AMUS Wildlife Hospital for the care and temporary hospitality of the birds before their departure
• The Vulture Conservation Foundation for their expertise and handling the difficult process of bird transport
• Hermes Airports for providing access to the airport premises upon bird arrival
• Emirates for the transport of birds
• The EU and the LIFE programme and the Tasso Leventis Conservation Foundation co-funding this effort
• All stakeholders who support this effort
