in-cyprus 1 February 2025
Fifteen griffon vultures (Gyps fulvus) arrived in Cyprus from Spain, as part of ongoing efforts to save the island’s critically endangered vulture population, BirdLife Cyprus said on Friday.
The initiative is funded by BirdLife Cyprus with support from the Game and Fauna Service and the Vulture Conservation Foundation.
The newly arrived vultures were received by the Game and Fauna Service and transported to a specialised acclimatisation aviary in the Limassol district, where they will remain for at least six months. As with past introductions, the birds will be equipped with satellite transmitters to monitor their movements and enable timely intervention if needed, BirdLife explained.
A study by the Vulture Conservation Foundation on the species’ viability indicates that without immediate action, the population could face extinction within 15 years. The long-term goal is to establish a viable population of at least 200 vultures, which requires both continuous reinforcement with new individuals and a significant reduction in poisoning incidents and other mortality factors.
Currently, only 37 griffon vultures remain in Cyprus, making it the smallest vulture population in Europe. Without the introduction of new birds, even with the complete elimination of poisoning, it would take more than 55 years to reach the target of 200 individuals. Given the critically low numbers and persistent threats, each new arrival significantly enhances the species’ long-term survival prospects on the island. Spain, which hosts 90-95% of Europe’s griffon vultures with a population of around 30,000 breeding pairs, remains an ideal source for bolstering Cyprus’ population.
The selected vultures were donated to Cyprus by the Regional Government of Andalusia. These young birds were hatched in Spain, rehabilitated in Andalusian wildlife hospitals, and temporarily housed at the ‘Mundo Park’ Zoo in Seville. After their full recovery, they were chosen for Cyprus’ vulture reinforcement programme, with the Vulture Conservation Foundation providing expertise and coordinating the transfer.
Efforts to bolster the population with birds from other countries began in 2012, when Cyprus’ griffon vulture numbers had plummeted to just 8-10 individuals. These measures successfully prevented the species’ extinction, but continued support is needed, as the population remains too small to recover naturally due to its slow breeding rate.
