Arnhem vultures take to the skies above France and Bulgaria
Friday, 24 June 2022
Species reintroduction is the release of a species into the wild. Animals that were born in zoos are released back into the wild (usually at a young age) under the supervision of a team of biologists on location in the field. The animals are released in areas that belong to the species’ original habitat but where the animal is locally extinct or where its numbers have declined dramatically. A species reintroduction project often sounds a lot simpler than it is. In cases where reintroductions are possible and responsible, Burgers’ Zoo is more than happy to cooperate! This time: Arnhem vultures released in France and Bulgaria.
In the wild, cinereous vultures, also known as monk vultures, are found in an area stretching from southern Europe to Asia. Occasionally, they are spotted in our country as well. In the mountainous regions of the Verdon in France, farmers have long regarded monk vultures as a threat to their cattle that grazes on the mountain pastures. Therefore, traditionally, farmers shot many monk vultures or poisoned them. By implementing an extensive education programme, it was explained to the farmers that monk vultures only eat carrion and do not attack live animals and that monk vultures should be seen as useful allies, as they quickly and efficiently clean up the carcasses of animals that have died of diseases, thus preventing the disease from spreading further among livestock. With this knowledge, farmers now deliberately leave carcasses for the vultures at designated sites. Since the EU has been increasingly restricting the use of various harmful agricultural chemicals, accidental poisoning of vultures is also less common. Thanks to these greatly improved living conditions for vultures, French biologists decided in 2005 that it was time to launch a reintroduction project. Since then, various vulture species have been released into the wild in the nature reserve “Les Gorges du Verdon”.
In 2005, a monk vulture hatched at Burgers’ Zoo. It was given the name ‘Arnhem’ and released into the wild as part of the French project. Unfortunately, we did not have any young monk vultures in the following years. But in 2011, a young hatched on 29 May and was named ‘Burgers’ Zoo’. When the young vulture was about to leave the nest, the zookeepers took it off the nest. French biologists from LPO PACA Antenne Verdon came to collect the animal in Arnhem. The animal went on its journey after being ringed and having some blood samples and feathers taken for further examination, including DNA and sex determination. ‘Burgers’ Zoo’ was released into the wild together with a monk vulture of similar age from the Puy du Fou zoo in France.
Before the animals are released, they are kept in a so-called soft release cage for several weeks. The birds can be fed there and learn about the environment from this cage. A week before the actual release, the animals are examined, some feathers are bleached temporarily for identification purposes, and the animals are given a ‘transmitter’. Then it’s finally time! The vultures are released into their natural habitat. A crowning achievement!
In 2013, we participated in a similar reintroduction project for griffon vultures in Bulgaria. The Bulgarian project started in 2009, and the first griffon vultures were released there in the same year. In 2012, a griffon vulture nested in Bulgaria for the first time in fifty years. The female came from the Doué la Fontaine Zoo (France) and was one of the ones released in 2009.
The Jerez Zoo, located in the south of Spain, is the European pedigree holder of the griffon vulture. They put us in touch with the Bulgarian biologists of the Green Balkans. Two young that hatched at our zoo in 2012 and 2013 were released into the wild over the Balkans in Bulgaria. On 17 December 2013, our two vultures and one young male griffon vulture from Dierenrijk were transported by plane to Bulgaria. On arrival at the Green Balkans Wildlife Rescue Centre, they were extensively checked to ensure everything was OK. Then they were put with a group of vultures that had just arrived from Spain and stayed at the Rescue Centre for another 30 days. After this quarantine period, the birds were taken to one of four introduction sites in the Balkan Mountains and released into the wild. As our birds were still very young, they were released into an existing group so that they could join the more experienced birds. The birds are equipped with a wing band to be easily recognised from a distance. Burgers’ Zoo also sponsored this project by bearing all the transport costs. Transport partner Malenstein Air at Schiphol Airport and Bulgarian Air also sponsored this project. Wonderful to be able to support these projects in this way!
