Latest news with #BeardedVulture
Euronews
25-06-2025
- General
- Euronews
'It's like a miracle': the emotional reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture in Bulgaria
The 90-day-old chicks are already two metres wide, but they do not yet have the soft white feathers and beard characteristic of the adult birds. This prehistoric-looking animal has captured the imagination of ornithologists around the world. In the amphitheatre of Sliven's Tuida Fortress, hundreds of people marvel at three young Bearded Vultures about to be released onto the mountain peaks overlooking the town. This just so happens to be the very spot where the last known specimen in Bulgaria was found dead in 1972. This ceremony, held on Saturday 17 May, marked the culmination of the Bearded Vulture LIFE project and is part of decades of vulture reintroduction efforts in Bulgaria. On stage, Bulgarian and international ornithologists emphasised the importance of the return of Europe's rarest vulture to the Balkan Peninsula. A long-awaited return 'Bulgaria can be proud of this project. The Bearded Vulture used to live here for centuries, and its population should flourish here again,' Valeri Georgiev, Head of the Biodiversity Division at the Bulgarian Ministry of Environment, told Euronews. After the ceremony, the three chicks were taken to a secret release site. A team of experts gently placed the vultures, named Balkan, LifeBG, and Boev, in artificial nests protected from predators. One of these birds was born in the breeding centre in Stara Zagora, Bulgaria. The other two came from Ostrava Zoo in the Czech Republic. For months, they will be fed, monitored with a camera, and looked after until they fly away to nest in the wild. 'All my life, I've imagined this moment. It was a distant dream that has become increasingly real. Now it's a miracle,' ornithologist Emilian Stoynov, Director of the Fund for Wild Flora & Fauna (FWFF), told Euronews. Turning the tide of extinction Over the past two decades, Stoynov and other stakeholders such as the NGO Green Balkans have helped reintroduce hundreds of vultures — mainly Cinereous Vultures and Griffon Vultures — to the mountains of Bulgaria. Of the four native vulture species, only the Bearded Vulture was still absent in the wild. The scavenger had gone extinct across the Balkan Peninsula in recent decades, and the closest wild populations are currently found on the island of Crete, but a similar reintroduction programme has been launched in Romania. 'It's vital to have a connection between the populations in Türkiye, Asia, the Alps and other parts of Europe. This connection has disappeared for decades, and now we're returning the stepping stones to recreate that gene flow again,' Hans Pohlmann, President of the Vulture Conservation Foundation (VCF), explained. The VCF considers the species' successful reintroduction in several regions of Western Europe, such as the Alps and the Pyrenees, as 'one of the most encouraging examples of wildlife conservation in the world.' A fascinating and useful scavenger Vultures play an important ecosystemic role: by eating dead animals, they prevent the spread of viruses. 'The Bearded Vulture feeds mainly on bones, which is unique in the animal world and particularly useful because it cleans up carcasses in nature,' says Andreana Dicheva, Breeding Programme Coordinator, Green Balkans. 'With the reintroduction of the Bearded Vulture, Bulgaria's vultures will be able to wipe out an entire carcass,' adds Dobromir Borislavov, Director of the Sofia Zoo. Vultures still face significant threats, but improved nesting conditions and food supply techniques, as well as the promotion of sustainable stock breeding have increased conservation capacity. Unlike other continents, vulture populations are increasing in Europe. There were only 465 breeding pairs of Bearded Vultures in Europe in 2022, according to the Vulture Conservation Foundation. 'There is still a long way to go, but the knowledge is here, as well as the passion. So, I think we can make it,' says Stoynov.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Officials make horrifying discovery after opening suspicious crate at international airport — here's what they found
Airport officials in Kyrgyzstan arrested five Maltese poachers in April for attempting to smuggle dozens of endangered birds out of the country. According to Newsbook, authorities detained the poachers at Manas International Airport in Bishkek, the country's capital, after the Bioresources Control Department and the Department for Combating Smuggling and Violations of Customs Rules discovered the birds. The unnamed citizens were charged with the illegal transportation and removal of wildlife, in addition to unauthorized hunting. An official statement from the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision did not reveal what bird species were involved in the incident. Authorities have fined the smugglers 180,000 Kyrgyz soms (around $2,058), and a civil lawsuit ordered them to pay 270,000 soms (roughly $3,087) to cover harm to wildlife. The ministry reported that Kyrgyz law enforcement agencies are investigating the situation. Newsbook reported that wildlife trafficking is a significant issue in Kyrgyzstan, as the country is home to many endangered bird species, including the Bearded Vulture, Sociable Lapwing, Himalayan Griffon Vulture, and the Saker Falcon. Species like the Marco Polo sheep, argali, brown bears, and wolves are hunted for trophies. External demand drives the illegal wildlife trade in Kyrgyzstan, with foreign criminal groups often working with local individuals. According to Central Asia's open borders make it easy for wildlife to be smuggled across countries. Historically, some officials have even been involved in the exploitation of endangered animals. Smuggling not only harms animals but also contributes to ecological imbalances if they're released in countries where they're not native. Invasive species can wreak havoc on the environment because they outcompete native plants and animals for critical resources. In addition, poaching affects humans because it makes natural areas less appealing to tourists and could impact revenue for communities that rely on ecotourism. The illegal wildlife trade also increases the risk of zoonotic disease transmission, including monkeypox and possibly COVID-19. Kyrgyzstan has enforced stricter environmental protection laws and increased penalties for wildlife crimes to conserve the country's biodiversity. Additionally, the Snow Leopard Trust — a nonprofit based in Washington — along with the Kyrgyz government, established the Citizen-Ranger Wildlife Protection Program, which trains and rewards rangers and local community members who apprehend illegal hunters. Do you think people should be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets? Yes No It depends on the animal It depends on the person Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. All over the globe, officials have been cracking down on illegal trafficking schemes. In Spain, police rescued over 50 animals, including sand boas, scorpions, and endangered lizards, from a family involved in wildlife smuggling. Nearly 5,000 miles away in India, authorities discovered 72 parrots kept in horrible conditions at a smuggler's home and relocated them to a rehabilitation center. If you notice suspicious activity at airports, neighbors' homes, or even while driving, make sure to report it to wildlife authorities or anti-trafficking government hotlines or websites. You may also consider donating to environmental organizations that help combat trafficking. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
