SmartBirds
Egyptian Vulture Kaloyan was rescued in Niger following tense negotiations and thanks to the swift response and excellent coordination between partner organisations across several countries. Kaloyan is a rescued wild bird that was raised at the Wildlife Rehabilitation and Breeding Centre – Green Balkans and released by the Bulgarian Society for the Protection of Birds (BSPB) as part of the Reinforcement Programme for the species in Bulgaria. He was released last year in the Eastern Rhodopes and after a successful migration to Africa, spent the winter in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Niger.
On the evening of June 24, Dr. Volen Arkumarev from BSPB received an unexpected phone call from Niger. The call turned out to be from a local man who had captured the Egyptian Vulture after seeing it feed on a sheep carcass, mistakenly thinking the bird had killed his animal. The man initially intended to kill the vulture, but upon discovering the GPS transmitter on the bird’s back, he decided to contact our team using the phone number written on the device.
BSPB’s team immediately sought assistance from our partners at the Sahara Conservation Fund, who operate in Niger, and they quickly established contact with the man. Initially, after a brief conversation and explanation, the local resident agreed to release the bird in exchange for reimbursement of the international call (approximately USD 8). However, shortly after, he changed his mind and demanded a ransom of 1 million Nigerian naira (approximately €600).
Thanks to the swift intervention of our partners from the Sahara Conservation Fund (SCF), local authorities in Niger were immediately alerted. Following their prompt action, the bird was confiscated along with the transmitter, and rangers ensured its safety. Photos confirmed that the vulture was in good overall condition with no visible serious injuries. After being fed and given water, and allowed to regain its strength for a few days, the bird was successfully returned to the wild.
Unfortunately, the straps of the GPS transmitter had been cut, and the device could not be reattached, which means we can no longer track his movements. We hope that Kaloyan will recover fully and continue his journey. If he returns to Bulgaria, we will try to identify him by the unique coded ornithological ring he wears on his leg. Whether this story will have a happy ending remains to be seen.
We would like to thank all our colleagues and institutions who made the successful resolution of this complex case possible, namely: Sahara Conservation Fund, La Direction générale des eaux et forêts (DGEF), tla Direction de la faune, de la chasse et des aires protégées (DFC/AP), la Direction Départementale de l’Environnement de Tchintabaraden et l’Unité de gestion des aires protégées de Gadababedji.
