Vultures of the species Pyrochorus have spread their wings and are now flying in the Cypriot sky, joining the rest of the population that currently amounts to 41 birds.

A relevant announcement by BirdLife states that the release of the 4th batch of vultures that arrived in Cyprus from Spain last February has been completed, as part of the efforts to strengthen the population of the Fire Vulture.

After nine months of adaptation to a special cage of the Game and Fauna Service, the doors opened and the last two vultures spread their wings yesterday and flew into the Cypriot sky. Their movements are already being tracked through GPS transmitters and we expect that they will soon join the rest of the population, which currently numbers 41 birds, and start using well-known lairs.

Strengthening the population by introducing vultures is an important step in the ongoing efforts to prevent the extinction of the species. Each new bird that joins the Cypriot population increases hopes for the future of the Griffon Vulture on our island. The aim is to continue intensive efforts with an emphasis on addressing the main threats (poisoning and electrocution) that undermine conservation efforts and continue to threaten the species with extinction.

The introduction of the 4th batch of vultures was coordinated by the Vulture Conservation Foundation in collaboration with BirdLife Cyprus and the Game and Fauna Service. The transport costs were covered by the above bodies as well as with the support of the Cyprus Environment Foundation. The vultures imported into Cyprus are donated by the Regional Government of Andalusia to the Republic of Cyprus.