- EDITIONS: Spanish News Today Murcia Today Alicante Today
Date Published: 02/09/2021
ARCHIVED - Bearded vulture population on the rise in Andalusia
After the species was declared extinct in Andalucía in 1987, 10 of these birds have been born in captivity this year
The bearded vulture population has taken record steps towards recovery in the region of Andalucía, with 10 chicks being born in a single season this year, after the species was hunted to extinction in 1987.
Bearded vultures, also known as Lammergeier, are one of the most emblematic and endangered birds of prey in Spain, the majority of the Spanish population can be found in the Pyrenees. However, there is a small, but growing, reintroduced population in Andalucía, mostly in the Sierra de Cazorla in Jaén.
These enormous birds, which can reach a wingspan of 2.8 metres, thrived in Andalucía in the 19th century, but they were then hunted and poisoned excessively, as they were considered a threat to livestock and farmers.
However, thanks to the collaboration of different national and international bird protection organisations and the regional government, this species can now be occasionally spotted in Andalucía.
The t10 bearded vulture chicks born this year in the Guadalentín breeding centre represent the largest batch of new-borns in any European centre since conservation efforts began, and eight of the young birds have now been released into the wild: two in the Sierra de Castril Natural Park (Granada) and six in the Cazorla Natural Park (Jaén).
IMAGES: SEO BirdLife
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